LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Milwaukee, WI · Generated June 14, 2026
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Milwaukee, WI $66,980/yr
$66,980
Mean: $67,590
~$52,244 est. take-home
$32.20
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$1,969/mo
44%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$56,570
Median
$66,980
75th %
$75,280
Median is in the 56th percentile of the typical range
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in other WI cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in WI.
About Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in Milwaukee, WI
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Milwaukee, WI earn a median of $66,980 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $67,590, 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 $56,570 and $75,280. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $32.20 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 Milwaukee, WI
Median: $66,980/yr — browse openings that fit.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators jobs on Indeed
Search thousands of openings
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators on LinkedIn
Network & apply
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators on ZipRecruiter
AI-matched positions
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators on Glassdoor
Salary + reviews
Boost your skills
Courses for Water
External job listings · LocalSalaryHub may earn a referral fee
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Milwaukee?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $66,980. The average (mean) is $67,590, 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 Milwaukee?▾
About $32.20/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 Milwaukee?▾
The middle 50% earn between $56,570 and $75,280. Below $56,570 is typically entry-level; above $75,280 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $66,980 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $66,980 | $52,244 |
| Monthly | $5,582 | $4,354 |
| Biweekly | $2,576 | $2,009 |
| Weekly | $1,288 | $1,005 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $32.2 | $25.12 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $36.8 | $28.71 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $42.94 | $33.49 |
| Daily (8h) | $258 | $201 |
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 Milwaukee
Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
348 cities
Machinists
322 cities
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
341 cities
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
344 cities
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
337 cities
Butchers and Meat Cutters
320 cities
Bakers
329 cities
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
326 cities
Get Salary Alerts
Be the first to know when Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries change in Milwaukee, WI.
Free alerts · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
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 WI salary data — every occupation we cover in WI, 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 Milwaukee.
- 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.