Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Madison, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Madison, WI

Median annual salary $66,470 +14.1% vs national
Median hourly $31.96
10th percentile $49,610
90th percentile $81,070
Employed locally 120
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
Madison, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $49,610
    25th
    $58,730
    50th (median)
    $66,470
    75th
    $77,590
    90th
    $81,070

    Madison economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,827 2023 • Census ACS
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 77% Median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is 23% 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
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $78,020
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $77,800
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $74,680
    Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $69,730
    Sheboygan, WI $67,200
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $66,010

    Related occupations in Madison, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $47,720
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,820
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $52,380
    Food Batchmakers $47,440
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $45,700
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $56,620

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Madison, WI is $31.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.24 or more per hour.

    Is Madison 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 Madison, WI is 14.1% 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 Madison?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $49,610 per year in Madison, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $58,730.