LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Washington, DC · Generated June 14, 2026
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Washington, DC $73,600/yr
$73,600
Mean: $73,460
~$57,408 est. take-home
$35.38
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$2,366/mo
48%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$59,620
Median
$73,600
75th %
$84,570
Median is in the 56th percentile of the typical range
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in other DC cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in DC.
About Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in Washington, DC
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Washington, DC earn a median of $73,600 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $73,460, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in this area earn between $59,620 and $84,570. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $35.38 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
-3% as modern plants need fewer operators per shift. But here's the thing: experienced operators are retiring faster than positions are being cut, and aging infrastructure requires skilled maintenance. The people who stay in the field have strong job security.
Worth knowing: The highest-level state certifications (Level 4/A) are your bargaining chip. They're hard to get, they take years, and facilities can't legally operate without enough certified operators on shift.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Jobs in Washington, DC
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Washington?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $73,600. The average (mean) is $73,460, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make per hour in Washington?▾
About $35.38/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Washington?▾
The middle 50% earn between $59,620 and $84,570. Below $59,620 is typically entry-level; above $84,570 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $73,600 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $73,600 | $57,408 |
| Monthly | $6,133 | $4,784 |
| Biweekly | $2,831 | $2,208 |
| Weekly | $1,415 | $1,104 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $35.38 | $27.6 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $40.44 | $31.54 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $47.18 | $36.8 |
| Daily (8h) | $283 | $221 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators, based on BLS median salary data.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators across all states.
- All DC salary data — every occupation we cover in DC, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in San Francisco, CA — the top-paying city for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Washington.
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $72,440.