SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Bowling Green
Bowling Green, KY · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Bowling Green, KY is $45,650 per year, 23.9% below the national median of $60,020.
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 Bowling Green, KY is $45,650 per year, 23.9% below the national median of $60,020. Half of workers earn between $35,370 and $57,140. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $33,520 and the ninetieth at $63,920.
Employment stands at 60, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Owensboro records the highest median at $57,810. Of the 279 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 161st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,520 | −44.2% |
| 25th | $35,370 | −41.1% |
| Median (50th) | $45,650 | −23.9% |
| 75th | $57,140 | −4.8% |
| 90th | $63,920 | +6.5% |
| Mean | $47,700 | −20.5% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owensboro | $57,810 | 70 | |
| 2 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $52,230 | 530 | |
| 3 | Paducah | $52,160 | 70 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $51,720 | 60 | |
| 5 | Lexington | $49,280 | 240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bowling Green run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $45,650 goes as far as $50,610 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$50,610US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,650 a year, 23.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,520 to $63,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Owensboro, at $57,810.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Bowling Green, KY?
The median annual wage is $45,650, or $21.95 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 Bowling Green, KY is 23.9% 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 Bowling Green, KY earns more than $63,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,520 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 Owensboro, at $57,810 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Bowling Green, KY. 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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