SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Flagstaff
Flagstaff, AZ · 6 metro areas compared
At $58,680, median pay for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Flagstaff, AZ tracks the national median of $60,020 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $58,680, median pay for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Flagstaff, AZ tracks the national median of $60,020 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,030 and $67,230. The lowest tenth earn under $44,480, while the highest tenth earn more than $81,450.
Employment stands at 130, or 1.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Phoenix leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,660. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 125th of 254 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,480 | −25.9% |
| 25th | $49,030 | −18.3% |
| Median (50th) | $58,680 | −2.2% |
| 75th | $67,230 | +12.0% |
| 90th | $81,450 | +35.7% |
| Mean | $59,560 | −0.8% |
Other metro areas in Arizona
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix | $63,660 | 2,570 | |
| 2 | Tucson | $58,390 | 260 | |
| 3 | Lake Havasu City | $52,570 | 200 | |
| 4 | Prescott Valley | $49,730 | 160 | |
| 5 | Yuma | $49,090 | 170 | |
| 6 | Sierra Vista | $48,930 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Flagstaff sit close to the national average, so $58,680 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$58,680as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,272US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,680 a year, 2.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,480 to $81,450 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Phoenix, at $63,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Flagstaff, AZ?
The median annual wage is $58,680, or $28.21 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 Flagstaff, AZ is 2.2% 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 Flagstaff, AZ earns more than $81,450 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,480 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 Phoenix, at $63,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Flagstaff, AZ. 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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