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Water Treatment Operator Salary by State (2026)
How much does a Water Treatment Operator make? The median Water Treatment Operator salary in the US is about $60,128 per year (roughly $29.00 an hour), across 127,680 jobs (Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $44,320 in Arkansas to $81,770 in California. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Water Treatment Operator salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| California | $81,770 | 11,630 |
| Nevada | $81,440 | 0 |
| Washington | $80,800 | 2,030 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 | 980 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 | 2,290 |
| Colorado | $74,200 | 2,620 |
| Oregon | $69,720 | 1,240 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 | 2,510 |
| Illinois | $67,810 | 3,500 |
| Hawaii | $65,560 | 610 |
| Delaware | $64,940 | 340 |
| New York | $63,990 | 5,300 |
| Vermont | $63,640 | 320 |
| Wisconsin | $63,550 | 2,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 | 4,660 |
| Wyoming | $63,260 | 500 |
| New Hampshire | $62,940 | 510 |
| Maine | $61,870 | 710 |
| Maryland | $61,870 | 1,770 |
| Rhode Island | $61,820 | 420 |
| Arizona | $61,340 | 3,950 |
| Utah | $61,290 | 1,900 |
| Nebraska | $61,220 | 740 |
| Iowa | $60,990 | 2,370 |
| North Dakota | $60,470 | 550 |
| Alaska | $60,160 | 750 |
| Virginia | $59,420 | 3,460 |
| Michigan | $59,270 | 3,400 |
| Ohio | $59,170 | 5,870 |
| Florida | $59,030 | 7,440 |
| Montana | $58,040 | 690 |
| Indiana | $53,540 | 3,140 |
| South Dakota | $53,370 | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $52,210 | 1,480 |
| South Carolina | $52,090 | 2,650 |
| Alabama | $51,870 | 2,770 |
| North Carolina | $51,680 | 3,620 |
| Tennessee | $50,670 | 3,140 |
| Missouri | $49,940 | 3,000 |
| Texas | $49,460 | 10,520 |
| Georgia | $48,930 | 3,310 |
| New Mexico | $48,190 | 2,110 |
| West Virginia | $47,560 | 1,100 |
| Kansas | $46,780 | 1,560 |
| Mississippi | $46,480 | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $46,210 | 2,450 |
| Oklahoma | $45,890 | 2,280 |
| Kentucky | $45,430 | 2,540 |
| Arkansas | $44,320 | 2,010 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Water Treatment Operator make?
- A Water Treatment Operator makes a median of about $60,128 per year in the US (roughly $29.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $44,320 in Arkansas to $81,770 in California depending on the state.
- What is the average Water Treatment Operator salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Water Treatment Operator salary in the US is about $60,128 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 127,680 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Water Treatment Operators the most?
- California has the highest median Water Treatment Operator salary at $81,770 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Water Treatment Operators the least?
- Arkansas has the lowest median at $44,320 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, code 51-8031). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.