Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
SOC 51-8031 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is $54,890, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $58,050, and an estimated 120,710 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +11.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -5% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 6.5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $54,890 | $54,890 | 120,710 |
| 2022 | $51,600 | $53,724 | 119,350 |
| 2021 | $47,880 | $53,840 | 121,150 |
| 2020 | $49,090 | $57,794 | 119,380 |
Nominal change
+11.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-5%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-6.5%
Declining
Employment 2024
132,400
Projected 2034
123,800
Annual Openings
10,700
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $54,890. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $80,260 | +46.2% | — |
| California | $79,130 | +44.2% | 10,620 |
| Washington | $78,320 | +42.7% | 2,320 |
| Alaska | $77,350 | +40.9% | 480 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $75,350 | +37.3% | 190 |
| Connecticut | $74,600 | +35.9% | 910 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $70,520 | +28.5% | 310 |
| New Jersey | $70,000 | +27.5% | 2,230 |
| Illinois | $69,070 | +25.8% | 5,030 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $67,920 | +23.7% | 350 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$36,680
25th Pct
$44,720
Median
$54,890
75th Pct
$67,790
90th Pct
$83,090
Related Occupations in Production
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.