SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Lafayette
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN · 10 metro areas compared
In Lafayette, IN the median wage is $54,720.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Lafayette, IN the median wage is $54,720. That is 8.8% lower than the national median of $60,020. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,280 and $61,360. The lowest tenth earn under $46,760, while the highest tenth earn more than $61,360.
Employment stands at 110, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Kokomo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $66,230. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 161st of 308 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,760 | −22.1% |
| 25th | $49,280 | −17.9% |
| Median (50th) | $54,720 | −8.8% |
| 75th | $61,360 | +2.2% |
| 90th | $61,360 | +2.2% |
| Mean | $55,970 | −6.7% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kokomo | $66,230 | 40 | |
| 2 | Fort Wayne | $61,240 | 130 | |
| 3 | Elkhart | $60,790 | 60 | |
| 4 | Indianapolis | $58,530 | 690 | |
| 5 | Evansville | $55,050 | 110 | |
| 6 | South Bend | $53,490 | 100 | |
| 7 | Michigan City | $53,340 | 80 | |
| 8 | Muncie | $49,750 | 70 | |
| 9 | Terre Haute | $45,030 | 60 | |
| 10 | Bloomington | $40,010 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lafayette run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $54,720 goes as far as $58,650 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,720as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,650US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,720 a year, 8.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,760 to $61,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kokomo, at $66,230.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Lafayette, IN?
The median annual wage is $54,720, or $26.31 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 Lafayette, IN is 8.8% 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 Lafayette, IN earns more than $61,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,760 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 Kokomo, at $66,230 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Lafayette, IN. 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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