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Wastewater operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$60,020median pay per year, or $28.86 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $39,110lowest 10% earn less
  2. $48,04025th percentile
  3. $60,020median
  4. $74,78075th percentile
  5. $91,060top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

A wastewater operator, which BLS calls a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator, had a median pay of $60,020 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to fall 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.7%[2]
Openings per year
10,000[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do wastewater operators make?

The median pay for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators was $60,020 a year, or $28.86 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean, or average, was $62,540 a year, or $30.07 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,110 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $91,060[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][9] $39,110 $18.80
25th percentile[3][9] $48,040 $23.10
Median[1] $60,020 $28.86
75th percentile[3][9] $74,780 $35.95
90th percentile[3][9] $91,060 $43.78

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest state median at $81,770[11]. Nevada was next at $81,440, then Washington at $80,800[11]. Arkansas had the lowest listed median at $44,320[11].

California also had the most jobs, 11,630[12]. Texas had 10,520 and Florida 7,440[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median at $125,160[13]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA followed at $108,190, and Vallejo, CA at $106,150[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 3,690, with a median of $83,320[14].

Show median pay in 50 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[11]$81,77011,630
Nevada$81,440n/a
Washington$80,8002,030
Connecticut$78,820980
New Jersey$78,7602,500
Minnesota$74,6702,290
Colorado$74,2002,620
Oregon$69,7201,240
Massachusetts$68,5502,510
Illinois$67,8103,500
Hawaii$65,560610
Delaware$64,940340
New York$63,9905,300
Vermont$63,640320
Wisconsin$63,5502,230
Pennsylvania$63,3104,660
Wyoming$63,260500
New Hampshire$62,940510
Maine$61,870710
Maryland$61,8701,770
Rhode Island$61,820420
Arizona$61,3403,950
Utah$61,2901,900
Nebraska$61,220740
Iowa$60,9902,370
North Dakota$60,470550
Alaska$60,160750
Virginia$59,4203,460
Michigan$59,2703,400
Ohio$59,1705,870
Florida$59,0307,440
Montana$58,040690
Indiana$53,5403,140
South Dakota$53,3701,060
Idaho$52,2101,480
South Carolina$52,0902,650
Alabama$51,8702,770
North Carolina$51,6803,620
Tennessee$50,6703,140
Missouri$49,9403,000
Texas$49,46010,520
Georgia$48,9303,310
New Mexico$48,1902,110
West Virginia$47,5601,100
Kansas$46,7801,560
Mississippi$46,4801,150
Louisiana$46,2102,450
Oklahoma$45,8902,280
Kentucky$45,4302,540
Arkansas$44,3202,010

How to become a wastewater operator

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience in a related occupation and long-term on-the-job training[6].

License rules vary widely by state. Licenses typically have several levels, and an operator who moves to another state may need to take new exams[19]. Each higher license level lets an operator do more complex work without supervision[20]. Some workers also earn a professional certification[21].

Gaining experience in maintenance and repair may help[22]. In an O*NET survey of 24 workers in this occupation, 50% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 38% said a post-secondary certificate and 8% said some college courses[23].

What wastewater operators do

They run and control the machines and systems that treat water or wastewater[24]. O*NET lists these tasks, most important first[25]:

BLS says operators often use computerized systems to monitor plant processes[26].

Where they work

Local government, excluding education and hospitals, was the largest employer group in 2025 at 74%[27]. Operators work both indoors and outdoors. The work is often physically demanding, can involve hard-to-reach places, and brings noise and unpleasant odors[28]. Hazards include slippery walkways, dangerous gases and faulty equipment, and operators are trained in emergency procedures and may need to wear safety gear[29][30].

Plants run around the clock every day. Rotating shifts that include nights and weekends are common, and workers may be on call for emergencies[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 131,000 to 123,500 jobs[2]. For all occupations the projection is growth of 3.5%[32]. BLS names better equipment monitoring systems as a factor that reduces the need to check equipment by hand[33].

Jobs still open up. BLS expects about 10,000 openings a year[5]. These include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3% of workers leave the labor force and 5.5% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who want to enter with a high school diploma and learn on the job[6]. Pay is above the all-occupations median[1][4]. Training is long-term and a state license is usually required[6][19]. The work can be physically demanding and may involve shifts at night, on weekends and on call[28][31]. Employment is projected to fall[2], but about 10,000 openings a year are expected[5].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a wastewater operator make an hour?
The median was $28.86 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $30.07[1][7].
How much does a wastewater operator make a year?
The median pay was $60,020 a year[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,110 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $91,060[3].
What education do you need to be a wastewater operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical, plus long-term on-the-job training[6]. A state license is usually required[19].
Is wastewater operator a growing job?
BLS projects a 5.7% decline from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][32]. About 10,000 openings a year are still expected[5].
What is the highest paying state for wastewater operators?
California had the highest median at $81,770 in May 2025[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the US was $60,020 per year and $28.86 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is projected to decline 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 131,000 to 123,500 jobs (a change of -7,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: 10th percentile $39,110, 25th percentile $48,040, 75th percentile $74,780, 90th percentile $91,060. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 10,000 openings for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators was $62,540 per year and $30.07 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: 10th percentile $18.80, 25th percentile $23.10, 75th percentile $35.95, 90th percentile $43.78. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators jobs: California 11,630; Texas 10,520; Florida 7,440; Ohio 5,870; New York 5,300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $125,160; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $108,190; Vallejo, CA $106,150; Napa, CA $101,540; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $99,010; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $85,960; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $85,950; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $84,450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,690 (median $83,320); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 2,570 (median $63,660); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,230 (median $82,460); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,980 (median $51,940); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,910 (median $51,780); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,770 (median $79,290). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 51-8031.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 50%, Post-Secondary Certificate 38%, Some College Courses 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in 2025: Local government, excluding education and hospitals 74%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: Productivity change - share decreases as improved equipment monitoring systems reduce the need to manually check plant equipment. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.