SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Arkansas
Arkansas · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Arkansas is $44,320 per year, substantially below the national median of $60,020 — a gap of 26.2%.
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 Arkansas is $44,320 per year, substantially below the national median of $60,020 — a gap of 26.2%. Pay ranges from under $31,480 at the tenth percentile to more than $61,780 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,150 to $52,620.
Employment stands at 2,010, or 1.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Arkansas ranks 50th by median wage. Fayetteville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,280. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 424th of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,480 | −47.6% |
| 25th | $37,150 | −38.1% |
| Median (50th) | $44,320 | −26.2% |
| 75th | $52,620 | −12.3% |
| 90th | $61,780 | +2.9% |
| Mean | $45,590 | −24.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $49,280 | 310 | |
| 2 | Little Rock | $47,420 | 400 | |
| 3 | Fort Smith | $40,830 | 190 | |
| 4 | Jonesboro | $39,570 | 80 | |
| 5 | Hot Springs | $35,520 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $44,320 goes as far as $51,001 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,001US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,320 a year, 26.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,480 to $61,780 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,010 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 50th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fayetteville, at $49,280.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $44,320, or $21.31 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 Arkansas is 26.2% 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 Arkansas earns more than $61,780 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,480 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 Fayetteville, at $49,280 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,010 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. 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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