Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $41,920 -28% vs national
Median hourly $20.16
10th percentile $35,510
90th percentile $60,150
Employed locally 130
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
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,510
    25th
    $37,740
    50th (median)
    $41,920
    75th
    $49,250
    90th
    $60,150

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 70% Median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is 30% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $123,390
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $79,640
    Anchorage, AK $78,210
    Grand Junction, CO $71,170
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $69,740
    Lincoln, NE $69,120

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$38,670
    Upholsterers$59,400
    Sewing Machine Operators$46,360
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$63,280
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$41,340
    Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,150

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Hickory, NC is $20.16, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.39 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory 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 Hickory, NC is 28% below 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $35,510 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,740.