SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — St. Joseph
St. Joseph, MO-KS · 7 metro areas compared
In St.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In St. Joseph, MO the median wage is $50,670. That is 15.6% lower than the national median of $60,020. Pay ranges from under $39,350 at the tenth percentile to more than $74,270 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,050 to $58,130.
The area has 90 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.6 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, St. Louis records the highest median at $57,850. Of the 232 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 118th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,350 | −34.4% |
| 25th | $46,050 | −23.3% |
| Median (50th) | $50,670 | −15.6% |
| 75th | $58,130 | −3.1% |
| 90th | $74,270 | +23.7% |
| Mean | $53,630 | −10.6% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $57,850 | 1,220 | |
| 2 | Kansas City | $52,770 | 740 | |
| 3 | Cape Girardeau | $50,960 | 60 | |
| 4 | Columbia | $50,270 | 90 | |
| 5 | Joplin | $49,750 | 100 | |
| 6 | Springfield | $49,270 | 150 | |
| 7 | Jefferson City | $48,550 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in St. Joseph run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $50,670 goes as far as $55,804 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,804US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,670 a year, 15.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,350 to $74,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $57,850.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in St. Joseph, MO?
The median annual wage is $50,670, or $24.36 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 St. Joseph, MO is 15.6% 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 St. Joseph, MO earns more than $74,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,350 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 St. Louis, at $57,850 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in St. Joseph, MO. 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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