SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Tulsa
Tulsa, OK · 2 metro areas compared
In Tulsa, OK the median wage is $49,990.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Tulsa, OK the median wage is $49,990. That is 16.7% lower than the national median of $60,020. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $38,750 and $61,430. The lowest tenth earn under $37,110, while the highest tenth earn more than $62,200.
Employment stands at 620, or 1.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Oklahoma City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $50,460. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 272nd of 521 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,110 | −38.2% |
| 25th | $38,750 | −35.4% |
| Median (50th) | $49,990 | −16.7% |
| 75th | $61,430 | +2.3% |
| 90th | $62,200 | +3.6% |
| Mean | $49,100 | −18.2% |
Other metro areas in Oklahoma
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City | $50,460 | 630 | |
| 2 | Lawton | $40,190 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tulsa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $49,990 goes as far as $56,936 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,936US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,990 a year, 16.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,110 to $62,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 620 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Oklahoma City, at $50,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tulsa, OK?
The median annual wage is $49,990, or $24.03 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 Tulsa, OK is 16.7% 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 Tulsa, OK earns more than $62,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,110 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 Oklahoma City, at $50,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 620 jobs in this occupation in Tulsa, OK. 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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