Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $62,940 +8% vs national
Median hourly $30.26
10th percentile $47,890
90th percentile $78,690
Employed locally 520
National median $58,260

Compare Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Buffalo, NY stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
in
Buffalo, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,890
    25th
    $51,440
    50th (median)
    $62,940
    75th
    $68,620
    90th
    $78,690

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 89% Median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is 11% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $123,390
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $106,440
    Vallejo, CA $101,670
    Napa, CA $99,450
    Fairbanks-College, AK $91,010
    Salinas, CA $90,610

    Nearby metros — Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $106,440
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $82,830
    Elmira, NY $70,660
    Albany, OR $70,550
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $61,510
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $61,400

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$43,640
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,070
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,390
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$40,670
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,080
    Machinists$59,420

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators make per hour in Buffalo?

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Buffalo, NY is $30.26, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.21 or more per hour.

    Is Buffalo above or below average for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries?

    The median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Buffalo, NY is 8% above the national median of $58,260. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Buffalo?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $47,890 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $51,440.