SalaryExplorer

SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsNorth Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous)

North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) · 10 metro areas compared

$53,500 /year
$25.72per hour
460jobs in area
10.9%vs US median

The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous), OH is $53,500 per year, 10.9% below the national median of $60,020.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $60,02010TH$46,760MEDIAN$53,50075TH$61,07090TH$65,750

Salary overview

The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous), OH is $53,500 per year, 10.9% below the national median of $60,020. Half of workers earn between $48,110 and $61,070. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $46,760 and the ninetieth at $65,750.

The area has 460 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.9 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Lima records the highest median at $64,310. Of the 436 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 200th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$46,760−22.1%
25th$48,110−19.8%
Median (50th)$53,500−10.9%
75th$61,070+1.7%
90th$65,750+9.5%
Mean$55,690−7.2%

Other metro areas in Ohio

Median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Lima$64,31050
2Columbus$63,700730
3Cleveland$63,2601,020
4Sandusky$62,79070
5Cincinnati$61,460960
6Dayton$61,050410
7Akron$60,410240
8Toledo$58,740430
9Canton$52,150210
10Youngstown$50,660290

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $53,500 goes as far as $57,651 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.9% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$53,500as reported by BLS

Local price level

92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$57,651US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $53,500 a year, 10.9% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $46,760 to $65,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 460 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Lima, at $64,310.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous), OH?

The median annual wage is $53,500, or $25.72 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 North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous), OH is 10.9% 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 North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous), OH earns more than $65,750 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 Lima, at $64,310 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 460 jobs in this occupation in North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous), OH. 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 Salary in North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous), OH (2025): $53,500 Median | Salary Explorer