SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Delaware
Delaware · 1 metro areas compared
In Delaware the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is $64,940 a year, which is 8.2% higher than the national figure of $60,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Delaware the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is $64,940 a year, which is 8.2% higher than the national figure of $60,020. Half of workers earn between $54,960 and $76,240. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,160 and the ninetieth at $84,360.
The area has 340 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.85 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Delaware ranks 12th by median wage. Dover leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,410. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 215th of 517 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,160 | −19.8% |
| 25th | $54,960 | −8.4% |
| Median (50th) | $64,940 | +8.2% |
| 75th | $76,240 | +27.0% |
| 90th | $84,360 | +40.6% |
| Mean | $66,310 | +10.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Delaware
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dover | $62,410 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Delaware sit close to the national average, so $64,940 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$64,940as reported by BLSLocal price level
99.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,070US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $64,940 a year, 8.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,160 to $84,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dover, at $62,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Delaware?
The median annual wage is $64,940, or $31.22 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 Delaware is 8.2% higher. 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 Delaware earns more than $84,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,160 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 Dover, at $62,410 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 jobs in this occupation in Delaware. 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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