Salaries › Water Treatment Operator › Rhode Island
Water Treatment Operator Salary in Rhode Island (2026)
$29.72 per hour · take-home ≈ $49,954/year ($4,163/month) for a single filer
Rhode Island ranks 21st of 50 states for Water Treatment Operator pay, with a median about 3% above the national average. Of the 420 Water Treatment Operator jobs BLS counts in Rhode Island, the typical worker earns $61,820 a year — though pay ranges from $49,150 for newcomers to $84,640 at the top.
Water Treatment Operator pay range in Rhode Island
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $49,150 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $53,020 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $61,820 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $75,720 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $84,640 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 420 Water Treatment Operator jobs in Rhode Island (occupation code 51-8031, “Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Rhode Island
A median Water Treatment Operator salary of $61,820 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Rhode Island state income tax, a single filer keeps about $49,954 — an effective tax rate of 19.2%.
| Gross (median) | $61,820 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,238 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,729 |
| Rhode Island state income tax | −$1,898 |
| Take-home (annual) | $49,954 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,163 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Rhode Island paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Water Treatment Operator make in Rhode Island?
- The median Water Treatment Operator salary in Rhode Island is $61,820 per year ($29.72 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $53,020 and $75,720.
- What is the take-home pay for a Water Treatment Operator in Rhode Island?
- On the median salary of $61,820, a single filer in Rhode Island takes home about $49,954 per year ($4,163 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.2%.
- How many Water Treatment Operator jobs are there in Rhode Island?
- BLS counts 420 Water Treatment Operator jobs in Rhode Island in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Water Treatment Operators
Other salaries in Rhode Island
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Rhode Island state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Rhode Island.