SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Grand Junction
Grand Junction, CO · 5 metro areas compared
In Grand Junction, CO the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is $73,920 a year, which is 23.2% higher than the national figure of $60,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Grand Junction, CO the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is $73,920 a year, which is 23.2% higher than the national figure of $60,020. Half of workers earn between $65,370 and $80,690. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $53,020 and the ninetieth at $82,570.
The area has 60 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.9 of every thousand jobs. Denver leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $76,150. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 75th of 286 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,020 | −11.7% |
| 25th | $65,370 | +8.9% |
| Median (50th) | $73,920 | +23.2% |
| 75th | $80,690 | +34.4% |
| 90th | $82,570 | +37.6% |
| Mean | $71,720 | +19.5% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | $76,150 | 960 | |
| 2 | Boulder | $74,270 | 170 | |
| 3 | Fort Collins | $73,330 | 170 | |
| 4 | Colorado Springs | $65,970 | 230 | |
| 5 | Greeley | $65,840 | 220 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Grand Junction run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $73,920 buys what $71,697 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 19.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$73,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$71,697US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $73,920 a year, 23.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,020 to $82,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Denver, at $76,150.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Grand Junction, CO?
The median annual wage is $73,920, or $35.54 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 Grand Junction, CO is 23.2% 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 Grand Junction, CO earns more than $82,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,020 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 Denver, at $76,150 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Grand Junction, CO. 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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