Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Watertown, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Median annual salary $53,410 -8.3% vs national
Median hourly $25.68
10th percentile $43,010
90th percentile $79,690
Employed locally 60
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
Watertown, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $43,010
    25th
    $45,510
    50th (median)
    $53,410
    75th
    $55,650
    90th
    $79,690

    Watertown economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,978 2023 • Census ACS
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 82% Median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is 18% 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $106,440
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $82,830
    Elmira, NY $70,660
    Albany, OR $70,550
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $62,940
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $61,510

    Related occupations in Watertown, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $37,970
    Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $51,450
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,700
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,650
    Power Plant Operators $71,420
    Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers $32,790

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Watertown, NY is $25.68, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.26 or more per hour.

    Is Watertown 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 Watertown, NY is 8.3% below 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 Watertown?

    Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $43,010 per year in Watertown, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $45,510.