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SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsMount Vernon

Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA · 9 metro areas compared

$87,310 /year
$41.98per hour
90jobs in area
+45.5%vs US median

In Mount Vernon, WA the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators reaches $87,310 a year.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $60,02010TH$59,67025TH$72,120MEDIAN$87,31090TH$102,050

Salary overview

In Mount Vernon, WA the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators reaches $87,310 a year. That is 45.5% more than the national median of $60,020. Pay ranges from under $59,670 at the tenth percentile to more than $102,050 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $72,120 to $100,610.

Employment stands at 90, or 1.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Seattle records the highest median at $99,010. Of the 250 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 62nd.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$59,670−0.6%
25th$72,120+20.2%
Median (50th)$87,310+45.5%
75th$100,610+67.6%
90th$102,050+70.0%
Mean$83,270+38.7%

Other metro areas in Washington

Median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Seattle$99,010830
2Olympia$88,27070
3Wenatchee$87,84040
4Bellingham$81,43080
5Spokane$81,240130
6Kennewick$80,75080
7Bremerton$79,10090
8Yakima$75,29090
9Longview$64,42030

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Mount Vernon run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $87,310 buys what $81,598 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 36.0% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$87,310as reported by BLS

Local price level

107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$81,598US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $87,310 a year, 45.5% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $59,670 to $102,050 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $99,010.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Mount Vernon, WA?

The median annual wage is $87,310, or $41.98 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 Mount Vernon, WA is 45.5% 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 Mount Vernon, WA earns more than $102,050 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $59,670 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 Seattle, at $99,010 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Mount Vernon, WA. 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.

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Mount Vernon, WA Earn $87,310 — 45.5% Above Average (2025) | Salary Explorer