SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Columbia
Columbia, SC · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Columbia, SC is $55,070 a year, trailing the national median of $60,020 by 8.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Columbia, SC is $55,070 a year, trailing the national median of $60,020 by 8.2%. Half of workers earn between $46,510 and $61,630. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $39,670 and the ninetieth at $72,850.
The area has 490 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.2 of every thousand jobs. Greenville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $61,660. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 259th of 511 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,670 | −33.9% |
| 25th | $46,510 | −22.5% |
| Median (50th) | $55,070 | −8.2% |
| 75th | $61,630 | +2.7% |
| 90th | $72,850 | +21.4% |
| Mean | $54,570 | −9.1% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | $61,660 | 390 | |
| 2 | Spartanburg | $61,240 | 250 | |
| 3 | Florence | $59,840 | 80 | |
| 4 | Charleston | $51,790 | 450 | |
| 5 | Myrtle Beach | $50,270 | 150 | |
| 6 | Hilton Head Island | $48,650 | 170 | |
| 7 | Sumter | $45,930 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbia run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $55,070 goes as far as $58,773 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,773US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,070 a year, 8.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,670 to $72,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 490 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Greenville, at $61,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Columbia, SC?
The median annual wage is $55,070, or $26.48 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 Columbia, SC is 8.2% 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 Columbia, SC earns more than $72,850 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,670 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 Greenville, at $61,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 490 jobs in this occupation in Columbia, SC. 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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