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SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsNevada

Nevada · 2 metro areas compared

$81,440 /year
$39.15per hour
+35.7%vs US median

The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Nevada is $81,440 per year, well above the national median of $60,020.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $60,02010TH$56,11025TH$64,090MEDIAN$81,44090TH$101,820

Salary overview

The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Nevada is $81,440 per year, well above the national median of $60,020. The gap of 35.7% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $56,110 at the tenth percentile to more than $101,820 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $64,090 to $98,390.

Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Nevada ranks 2nd by median wage. Las Vegas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $84,450. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 175th of 669 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Nevada · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$56,110−6.5%
25th$64,090+6.8%
Median (50th)$81,440+35.7%
75th$98,390+63.9%
90th$101,820+69.6%
Mean$80,880+34.8%

Highest-paying metro areas in Nevada

Median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Las Vegas$84,450300
2Reno$79,770160

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Nevada sit close to the national average, so $81,440 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.

Published median

$81,440as reported by BLS

Local price level

100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$81,440US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $81,440 a year, 35.7% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $56,110 to $101,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • It ranks 2nd of 50 states for this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Las Vegas, at $84,450.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Nevada?

The median annual wage is $81,440, or $39.15 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 Nevada is 35.7% 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 Nevada earns more than $101,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $56,110 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 Las Vegas, at $84,450 per year.

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 Nevada Earn $81,440 — 35.7% Above Average (2025) | Salary Explorer