SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — New York
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New York, NY is $83,320 per year, well above the national median of $60,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New York, NY is $83,320 per year, well above the national median of $60,020. The gap of 38.8% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $64,160 and $101,550. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $52,030 and the ninetieth at $102,500.
Employment stands at 3,690, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Albany records the highest median at $63,120. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 306th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,030 | −13.3% |
| 25th | $64,160 | +6.9% |
| Median (50th) | $83,320 | +38.8% |
| 75th | $101,550 | +69.2% |
| 90th | $102,500 | +70.8% |
| Mean | $81,950 | +36.5% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany | $63,120 | 360 | |
| 2 | Buffalo | $63,080 | 580 | |
| 3 | Rochester | $62,950 | 360 | |
| 4 | Kiryas Joel | $62,550 | 280 | |
| 5 | Ithaca | $61,360 | 40 | |
| 6 | Elmira | $61,050 | 40 | |
| 7 | Syracuse | $60,840 | 190 | |
| 8 | Glens Falls | $59,750 | 100 | |
| 9 | Kingston | $59,750 | 140 | |
| 10 | Binghamton | $55,380 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $83,320 buys what $77,220 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 28.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$83,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$77,220US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $83,320 a year, 38.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $52,030 to $102,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,690 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albany, at $63,120.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New York, NY?
The median annual wage is $83,320, or $40.06 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 New York, NY is 38.8% 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 New York, NY earns more than $102,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $52,030 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 Albany, at $63,120 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,690 jobs in this occupation in New York, NY. 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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