Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Iowa City, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Iowa City, IA

Median annual salary $66,920 +14.9% vs national
Median hourly $32.17
10th percentile $46,820
90th percentile $75,290
Employed locally 100
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
Iowa City, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,820
    25th
    $59,680
    50th (median)
    $66,920
    75th
    $66,920
    90th
    $75,290

    Iowa City economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,142 2023 • Census ACS
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 90% Median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is 10% 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
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $85,000
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $83,260
    California $82,100
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $74,990
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $71,650
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $69,460

    Related occupations in Iowa City, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,270
    Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $43,700
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $66,210
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $46,020
    Butchers and Meat Cutters $32,280
    Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers $35,740

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Iowa City, IA is $32.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.74 or more per hour.

    Is Iowa City 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 Iowa City, IA is 14.9% 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 Iowa City?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $46,820 per year in Iowa City, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $59,680.