Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the United States earn a median salary of $60,020 per year — about $29 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 132K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -7%.
AI & Automation Risk
The occupation is a hybrid of physical labor and digital monitoring, with AI and advanced automation already contributing to a projected 7% decline in employment. While AI can optimize chemical dosing, analyze sensor data, and manage complex system flows, the role still requires physical presence for equipment maintenance, manual sampling, and emergency response to mechanical failures.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CABEST VALUE | $125,160 | Above avg (115.6) | $108,258 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,190 | Above avg (110.4) | $97,978 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,150 | Above avg (108.5) | $97,853 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $99,840 | Above avg (103.2) | $96,737 |
| Napa, CA | $101,540 | Above avg (112.6) | $90,214 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $99,010 | Above avg (111.1) | $89,091 |
| Rochester, MN | $78,270 | Below avg (90.8) | $86,181 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $94,060 | Above avg (109.9) | $85,590 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $87,310 | Average (102.4) | $85,228 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $74,670 | Below avg (87.6) | $85,209 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $88,270 | Above avg (103.7) | $85,145 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $72,010 | Below avg (84.8) | $84,900 |
| Bloomington, IL | $79,220 | Below avg (93.5) | $84,694 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $87,840 | Above avg (103.9) | $84,579 |
| Rockford, IL | $77,830 | Below avg (92.2) | $84,456 |
Education & Requirements
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