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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in New York, NY

BLS Official DataUpdated 2025-05-31
Median Annual

$83,320

Mean: $81,950

~$64,990 est. take-home

Hourly Rate

$40.06

Based on 2,080 hrs/yr

Cost of Living

100

100 = national avg

A

Very affordable

Affordability score: 100/100

Monthly surplus

$3,040/mo

Savings rate

55%

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in New York, NY — median $83,320/year, range $64,160-$101,550

Salary Distribution

Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.

25th %

$64,160

Median

$83,320

75th %

$101,550

Median is in the 51th percentile of the typical range

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in other NY cities

Compare the same occupation across cities in NY.

About Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in New York, NY

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New York, NY earn a median of $83,320 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $81,950, 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 $64,160 and $101,550. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.

That works out to roughly $40.06 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.

Career Outlook

↓↓ -3% growthDecline (BLS 2024–2034)

-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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in New York?

The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $83,320. The average (mean) is $81,950, 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 New York?

About $40.06/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 New York?

The middle 50% earn between $64,160 and $101,550. Below $64,160 is typically entry-level; above $101,550 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.

Salary Conversion Table

How does $83,320 per year break down across different time periods?

PeriodGrossEst. Take-Home
Yearly$83,320$64,990
Monthly$6,943$5,416
Biweekly$3,205$2,500
Weekly$1,602$1,250
Hourly (40h/wk)$40.06$31.25
Hourly (35h/wk)$45.78$35.71
Hourly (30h/wk)$53.41$41.66
Daily (8h)$320$250

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.

Related Occupations in New York

Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.

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