Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Erie, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Erie, PA

Median annual salary $60,770 +4.3% vs national
Median hourly $29.22
10th percentile $46,360
90th percentile $78,700
Employed locally 140
National median $58,260

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

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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
in
Erie, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,360
    25th
    $50,470
    50th (median)
    $60,770
    75th
    $67,550
    90th
    $78,700

    Erie economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $61,476 2023 • Census ACS
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 99% Median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is 1% 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
    Napa, CA $99,450
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $80,480
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $74,680
    Lebanon, PA $66,480
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $66,010
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $62,850

    Related occupations in Erie, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,620
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $60,880
    Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $37,330
    Machinists $48,940
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,400
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $48,310

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Erie, PA is $29.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.12 or more per hour.

    Is Erie 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 Erie, PA is 4.3% 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 Erie?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $46,360 per year in Erie, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,470.