SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — Yakima
Yakima, WA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Yakima, WA is $75,290 per year, well above the national median of $60,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Yakima, WA is $75,290 per year, well above the national median of $60,020. The gap of 25.4% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $56,090 at the tenth percentile to more than $88,470 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $57,730 to $77,600.
Employment stands at 90, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Seattle leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $99,010. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 94th of 292 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,090 | −6.5% |
| 25th | $57,730 | −3.8% |
| Median (50th) | $75,290 | +25.4% |
| 75th | $77,600 | +29.3% |
| 90th | $88,470 | +47.4% |
| Mean | $71,340 | +18.9% |
Other 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 | Longview | $64,420 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Yakima run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $75,290 buys what $70,364 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$75,290as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$70,364US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $75,290 a year, 25.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $56,090 to $88,470 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in 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 Yakima, WA?
The median annual wage is $75,290, or $36.20 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 Yakima, WA is 25.4% 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 Yakima, WA earns more than $88,470 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $56,090 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 90 jobs in this occupation in Yakima, WA. 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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