SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Alaska
Alaska · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Alaska is $60,160 per year, close to the national median of $60,020 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Alaska is $60,160 per year, close to the national median of $60,020 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $46,800 and $83,700. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,200 and the ninetieth at $99,840.
The area has 750 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.3 of every thousand jobs. Alaska ranks number 27th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Fairbanks records the highest median at $99,840. Of the 515 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 327th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,200 | −41.4% |
| 25th | $46,800 | −22.0% |
| Median (50th) | $60,160 | +0.2% |
| 75th | $83,700 | +39.5% |
| 90th | $99,840 | +66.3% |
| Mean | $68,600 | +14.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alaska
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alaska run 2.4% above the national average, so the median of $60,160 buys what $58,750 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,750US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,160 a year, 0.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,200 to $99,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 750 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 27th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fairbanks, at $99,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Alaska?
The median annual wage is $60,160, or $28.92 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $60,020, so pay in Alaska is 0.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Alaska earns more than $99,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,200 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fairbanks, at $99,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 750 jobs in this occupation in Alaska. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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