SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 1 metro areas compared
At $61,820, median pay for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Rhode Island tracks the national median of $60,020 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $61,820, median pay for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Rhode Island tracks the national median of $60,020 closely. Pay ranges from under $49,150 at the tenth percentile to more than $84,640 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $53,020 to $75,720.
The area has 420 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.01 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Rhode Island ranks number 21st out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Providence records the highest median at $62,440. Of the 545 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 300th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,150 | −18.1% |
| 25th | $53,020 | −11.7% |
| Median (50th) | $61,820 | +3.0% |
| 75th | $75,720 | +26.2% |
| 90th | $84,640 | +41.0% |
| Mean | $64,260 | +7.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Rhode Island
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | $62,440 | 670 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the national average, so the median of $61,820 buys what $60,430 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 0.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,430US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,820 a year, 3.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,150 to $84,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 420 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 21st of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Providence, at $62,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Rhode Island?
The median annual wage is $61,820, or $29.72 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 Rhode Island is 3.0% 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 Rhode Island earns more than $84,640 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,150 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 Providence, at $62,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 420 jobs in this occupation in Rhode Island. 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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