Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $88,440 +51.8% vs national
Median hourly $42.52
10th percentile $61,470
90th percentile $105,100
Employed locally 730
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
Seattle, WA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $61,470
    25th
    $76,390
    50th (median)
    $88,440
    75th
    $100,650
    90th
    $105,100

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 79% Median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is 21% 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
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $85,790
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $85,000
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $82,830
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $81,730
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $79,640
    Washington $78,810

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$48,320
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$62,480
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,680
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$53,090
    Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$94,910
    Machinists$73,790

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Seattle, WA is $42.52, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $57.21 or more per hour.

    Is Seattle 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 Seattle, WA is 51.8% 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 Seattle?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $61,470 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $76,390.