SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Asheville
Asheville, NC · 10 metro areas compared
In Asheville, NC the median wage is $50,740.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Asheville, NC the median wage is $50,740. That is 15.5% lower than the national median of $60,020. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $48,480 and $58,260. The lowest tenth earn under $42,750, while the highest tenth earn more than $63,530.
The area has 90 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.63 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Jacksonville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $68,120. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 240th of 425 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,750 | −28.8% |
| 25th | $48,480 | −19.2% |
| Median (50th) | $50,740 | −15.5% |
| 75th | $58,260 | −2.9% |
| 90th | $63,530 | +5.8% |
| Mean | $52,970 | −11.7% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville | $68,120 | 70 | |
| 2 | Greenville | $63,900 | 70 | |
| 3 | Raleigh | $61,640 | 370 | |
| 4 | Durham | $61,360 | 130 | |
| 5 | Wilmington | $60,190 | 170 | |
| 6 | Fayetteville | $58,850 | 90 | |
| 7 | Charlotte | $58,600 | 790 | |
| 8 | Greensboro | $51,680 | 230 | |
| 9 | Rocky Mount | $51,100 | 60 | |
| 10 | Winston-Salem | $49,790 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Asheville run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $50,740 goes as far as $53,807 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,740as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,807US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,740 a year, 15.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $42,750 to $63,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Jacksonville, at $68,120.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Asheville, NC?
The median annual wage is $50,740, or $24.39 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 Asheville, NC is 15.5% 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 Asheville, NC earns more than $63,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $42,750 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 Jacksonville, at $68,120 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Asheville, NC. 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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