SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Washington
Washington · 10 metro areas compared
At $80,800 a year, the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Washington sits 34.6% above the national figure of $60,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $80,800 a year, the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Washington sits 34.6% above the national figure of $60,020. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $67,690 and $99,940. The lowest tenth earn under $57,720, while the highest tenth earn more than $106,270.
The area has 2,030 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.6 of every thousand jobs. Washington ranks number 3rd out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Seattle records the highest median at $99,010. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 297th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $57,720 | −3.8% |
| 25th | $67,690 | +12.8% |
| Median (50th) | $80,800 | +34.6% |
| 75th | $99,940 | +66.5% |
| 90th | $106,270 | +77.1% |
| Mean | $82,770 | +37.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $99,010 | 830 | |
| 2 | Olympia | $88,270 | 70 | |
| 3 | Wenatchee | $87,840 | 40 | |
| 4 | Mount Vernon | $87,310 | 90 | |
| 5 | Bellingham | $81,430 | 80 | |
| 6 | Spokane | $81,240 | 130 | |
| 7 | Kennewick | $80,750 | 80 | |
| 8 | Bremerton | $79,100 | 90 | |
| 9 | Yakima | $75,290 | 90 | |
| 10 | Longview | $64,420 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $80,800 buys what $75,514 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 25.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$75,514US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,800 a year, 34.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $57,720 to $106,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,030 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 3rd of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $99,010.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Washington?
The median annual wage is $80,800, or $38.85 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 Washington is 34.6% 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 Washington earns more than $106,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $57,720 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 Seattle, at $99,010 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,030 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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