SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Amarillo
Amarillo, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay in Amarillo, TX is $43,220 a year, 28.0% under the national median of $60,020 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Amarillo, TX is $43,220 a year, 28.0% under the national median of $60,020 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $38,780 and $47,520. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $32,140 and the ninetieth at $61,820.
The area has 80 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.76 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Austin leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $61,610. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 226th of 337 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,140 | −46.5% |
| 25th | $38,780 | −35.4% |
| Median (50th) | $43,220 | −28.0% |
| 75th | $47,520 | −20.8% |
| 90th | $61,820 | +3.0% |
| Mean | $44,100 | −26.5% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin | $61,610 | 850 | |
| 2 | Waco | $60,930 | 140 | |
| 3 | Corpus Christi | $54,700 | 120 | |
| 4 | Beaumont | $52,510 | 170 | |
| 5 | Houston | $51,940 | 1,980 | |
| 6 | Dallas | $51,780 | 1,910 | |
| 7 | San Antonio | $51,630 | 600 | |
| 8 | Sherman | $50,150 | 100 | |
| 9 | El Paso | $50,030 | 270 | |
| 10 | Tyler | $49,860 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Amarillo run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $43,220 goes as far as $44,511 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 25.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$43,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,511US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,220 a year, 28.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,140 to $61,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Austin, at $61,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Amarillo, TX?
The median annual wage is $43,220, or $20.78 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 Amarillo, TX is 28.0% lower. 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 Amarillo, TX earns more than $61,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,140 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 Austin, at $61,610 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Amarillo, TX. 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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