Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Salem, OR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salem, OR

Median annual salary $64,480 +10.7% vs national
Median hourly $31.00
10th percentile $52,280
90th percentile $79,080
Employed locally 110
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
Salem, OR
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $52,280
    25th
    $61,100
    50th (median)
    $64,480
    75th
    $78,070
    90th
    $79,080

    Salem economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,010 2023 • Census ACS
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 85% Median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is 15% 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
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $83,830
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $82,830
    California $82,100
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $81,730
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $79,640
    Rockford, IL $79,410

    Related occupations in Salem, OR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $44,220
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $59,950
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $36,390
    Food Batchmakers $35,380
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $52,520
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,480

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Salem, OR is $31.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.72 or more per hour.

    Is Salem 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 Salem, OR is 10.7% 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 Salem?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $52,280 per year in Salem, OR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,100.