Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in South Illinois

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • South Illinois nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $59,010 +1.3% vs national
Median hourly $28.37
10th percentile $37,820
90th percentile $71,970
Employed locally 300
National median $58,260

Compare Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how South Illinois stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
in
South Illinois
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,820
    25th
    $48,420
    50th (median)
    $59,010
    75th
    $62,510
    90th
    $71,970

    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

    Related occupations in South Illinois

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,390
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $68,900
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $45,970
    Production Workers, All Other $35,490
    Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $46,920
    Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $53,760

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Illinois is $28.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.24 or more per hour.

    Is South Illinois 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 South Illinois is 1.3% 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 South Illinois?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $37,820 per year in South Illinois. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,420.