367 metro areas

Water Treatment Operator Salary by City (2026)

Water treatment operators earn the most in San Francisco, CA, an average of $116,790 a year, against $62,540 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Francisco, CA ($101,020 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $62,540BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $116,790San Francisco, CA
Best after cost of living: $101,020San Francisco, CA
Metro areas: 367With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for water treatment operators

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Francisco, CA$116,790
San Jose, CA$107,000
Vallejo, CA$99,510
Napa, CA$97,320
Fairbanks, AK$93,870
Seattle, WA$92,370
Santa Cruz, CA$90,670
Sacramento, CA$89,630
Santa Maria, CA$88,190
Olympia, WA$87,920

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for water treatment operators
Item	Value
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$116,790
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$107,000
Vallejo, CA	$99,510
Napa, CA	$97,320
Fairbanks-College, AK	$93,870
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$92,370
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$90,670
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$89,630
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$88,190
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$87,920

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

San Francisco, CA$116,790 nominal$101,020
San Jose, CA$107,000 nominal$96,900
Vallejo, CA$99,510 nominal$91,730
Fairbanks, AK$93,870 nominal$90,950
Napa, CA$97,320 nominal$86,470
Rochester, MN$77,790 nominal$85,650
Olympia, WA$87,920 nominal$84,810
Sacramento, CA$89,630 nominal$84,030
Las Vegas, NV$83,990 nominal$83,810
Seattle, WA$92,370 nominal$83,120

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for water treatment operators
Item	Value
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$101,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$96,900
Vallejo, CA	$91,730
Fairbanks-College, AK	$90,950
Napa, CA	$86,470
Rochester, MN	$85,650
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$84,810
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$84,030
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$83,810
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$83,120

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Water Treatment Operator salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Water Treatment Operator pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Francisco, CA	$116,790	$81,100	$134,370	$101,020
2	San Jose, CA	$107,000	$70,280	$125,070	$96,900
3	Vallejo, CA	$99,510	$68,470	$114,770	$91,730
4	Napa, CA	$97,320	$69,530	$111,010	$86,470
5	Fairbanks, AK	$93,870	$65,670	$107,760	$90,950
6	Seattle, WA	$92,370	$70,050	$103,380	$83,120
7	Santa Cruz, CA	$90,670	$63,710	$103,960	$82,510
8	Sacramento, CA	$89,630	$66,600	$100,960	$84,030
9	Santa Maria, CA	$88,190	$61,530	$101,320	$81,060
10	Olympia, WA	$87,920	$69,260	$97,120	$84,810
11	Salinas, CA	$87,210	$63,670	$98,820	$79,980
12	Los Angeles, CA	$86,470	$60,420	$99,280	$76,140
13	Riverside, CA	$85,320	$60,030	$97,760	$80,160
14	Stockton, CA	$85,240	$57,200	$99,050	$81,110
15	Santa Rosa, CA	$84,780	$61,860	$96,080	$78,660
16	San Diego, CA	$84,680	$63,270	$95,220	$75,680
17	Las Vegas, NV	$83,990	$64,670	$93,520	$83,810
18	Mount Vernon, WA	$83,260	$59,490	$94,990	$81,270
19	Bridgeport, CT	$83,120	$66,000	$91,540	$77,780
20	San Luis Obispo, CA	$82,800	$59,650	$94,200	$76,250
21	Wenatchee, WA	$82,350	$64,940	$90,940	$79,290
22	Norwich, CT	$82,240	$64,920	$90,770	$81,880
23	New York, NY-NJ	$81,950	$57,660	$93,930	$72,800
24	Reno, NV	$81,890	$57,180	$94,080	$81,070
25	Bellingham, WA	$81,870	$64,830	$90,250	$79,230
26	Yuba City, CA	$80,870	$55,450	$93,390	$77,590
27	Anchorage, AK	$80,200	$51,250	$94,470	$76,080
28	Chicago, IL-IN	$80,080	$54,270	$92,790	$77,300
29	Chico, CA	$79,660	$53,440	$92,580	$78,720
30	Hartford, CT	$79,600	$60,920	$88,800	$77,470
31	Portland, OR-WA	$79,390	$58,140	$89,860	$75,310
32	Oxnard, CA	$79,250	$55,140	$91,100	$71,700
33	Modesto, CA	$78,120	$58,030	$88,030	$75,040
34	Redding, CA	$78,080	$53,810	$90,040	$77,550
35	Rochester, MN	$77,790	$65,790	$83,700	$85,650
36	New Haven, CT	$77,440	$61,090	$85,490	$74,060
37	Spokane, WA	$77,360	$59,650	$86,070	$77,090
38	Bremerton, WA	$76,940	$60,920	$84,840	$72,860
39	Jacksonville, FL	$76,770	$49,190	$90,360	$77,170
40	Rockford, IL	$76,090	$55,520	$86,240	$82,570
41	Waterbury, CT	$75,840	$58,780	$84,240	$76,010
42	El Centro, CA	$75,610	$51,880	$87,280	$79,440
43	Kennewick, WA	$75,340	$58,470	$83,640	$75,280
44	Denver, CO	$75,130	$57,160	$83,990	$71,020
45	Visalia, CA	$75,050	$51,170	$86,820	$75,180
46	Eugene, OR	$74,610	$55,740	$83,910	$73,460
47	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$74,590	$60,130	$81,720	$71,160
48	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$73,470	$53,290	$83,390	$67,480
49	Bloomington, IL	$73,300	$51,520	$84,010	$78,360
50	Bakersfield, CA	$72,740	$53,960	$81,990	$72,100
51	Boulder, CO	$72,550	$58,160	$79,640	$68,960
52	Vineland, NJ	$72,360	$53,620	$81,580	$75,400
53	Merced, CA	$72,340	$50,380	$83,160	$73,610
54	Fort Collins, CO	$72,280	$56,080	$80,250	$71,470
55	Longview, WA	$72,260	$61,260	$77,670	$74,080
56	Grand Junction, CO	$71,720	$57,470	$78,750	$75,120
57	Yakima, WA	$71,340	$55,890	$78,960	$74,670
58	Boston, MA-NH	$71,180	$55,220	$79,040	$65,750
59	Barnstable Town, MA	$71,070	$56,510	$78,230	$72,260
60	Medford, OR	$70,760	$58,300	$76,900	$69,760
61	Fresno, CA	$70,660	$50,150	$80,770	$69,170
62	Burlington, VT	$70,160	$57,700	$76,290	$69,500
63	Colorado Springs, CO	$70,100	$52,940	$78,540	$69,610
64	Sheboygan, WI	$70,080	$59,400	$75,320	$74,540
65	St. Cloud, MN	$69,950	$59,220	$75,230	$79,820
66	Madison, WI	$69,830	$54,120	$77,560	$71,780
67	Naples, FL	$69,430	$50,210	$78,890	$67,280
68	Worcester, MA	$69,410	$57,100	$75,480	$67,700
69	Santa Fe, NM	$69,200	$44,890	$81,200	$70,060
70	Kokomo, IN	$69,120	$46,970	$80,020	$77,100
71	Bozeman, MT	$68,970	$56,010	$75,360	$67,280
72	Appleton, WI	$68,540	$59,800	$72,840	$74,160
73	Fargo, ND-MN	$68,520	$51,960	$76,670	$75,400
74	Green Bay, WI	$68,350	$55,930	$74,460	$73,430
75	Kenosha, WI	$68,310	$55,180	$74,760	$67,550
76	Greeley, CO	$68,160	$51,940	$76,150	$68,040
77	Mankato, MN	$68,120	$55,060	$74,550	$74,890
78	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$68,040	$51,040	$76,420	$66,350
79	Racine, WI	$68,040	$57,010	$73,470	$70,900
80	Bend, OR	$68,020	$51,710	$76,070	$65,650
81	Springfield, MA	$67,950	$51,730	$75,960	$70,740
82	Salem, OR	$67,930	$55,430	$74,070	$65,540
83	Lincoln, NE	$67,790	$58,590	$72,300	$74,020
84	Atlantic City, NJ	$67,620	$50,440	$76,090	$68,400
85	Milwaukee, WI	$67,580	$53,750	$74,400	$69,720
86	Ann Arbor, MI	$67,390	$55,870	$73,050	$66,800
87	Portland, ME	$67,270	$56,080	$72,780	$66,040
88	Florence, AL	$67,250	$45,050	$78,170	$79,290
89	Springfield, IL	$67,250	$48,170	$76,650	$72,510
90	Trenton, NJ	$67,180	$54,680	$73,340	$65,110
91	Lansing, MI	$67,160	$53,730	$73,800	$70,700
92	Amherst Town, MA	$67,120	$56,600	$72,300	$66,960
93	Great Falls, MT	$67,060	$43,410	$78,690	$69,240
94	Pittsburgh, PA	$67,040	$49,320	$75,770	$70,810
95	Des Moines, IA	$66,710	$50,790	$74,530	$72,750
96	Duluth, MN-WI	$66,640	$52,600	$73,550	$75,070
97	Hanford, CA	$66,460	$50,020	$74,550	$65,410
98	Decatur, IL	$66,350	$52,770	$73,050	$75,040
99	Miami, FL	$66,310	$47,400	$75,630	$58,090
100	Manchester, NH	$66,210	$54,480	$71,990	$62,670
101	Baltimore, MD	$66,000	$46,950	$75,380	$63,170
102	Albany, OR	$65,830	$51,420	$72,920	$64,480
103	Wildwood, FL	$65,810	$42,990	$77,040	$77,040
104	Kiryas Joel, NY	$65,620	$49,940	$73,340	$59,970
105	Janesville, WI	$65,560	$57,050	$69,760	$69,970
106	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$65,290	$54,330	$70,680	$75,340
107	Providence, RI-MA	$65,040	$50,020	$72,450	$63,910
108	Urban Honolulu, HI	$65,000	$48,150	$73,320	$58,580
109	Bangor, ME	$64,980	$48,480	$73,110	$67,330
110	Waterloo, IA	$64,980	$50,440	$72,130	$74,640
111	Oshkosh, WI	$64,940	$51,650	$71,470	$69,880
112	Billings, MT	$64,600	$55,240	$69,200	$69,070
113	Champaign, IL	$64,580	$46,030	$73,720	$69,660
114	Dover, DE	$64,400	$49,230	$71,860	$66,050
115	Phoenix, AZ	$64,380	$49,920	$71,490	$62,310
116	Peoria, IL	$64,270	$43,280	$74,610	$70,450
117	Rochester, NY	$64,040	$48,570	$71,660	$66,000
118	Albany, NY	$64,000	$48,480	$71,660	$64,280
119	Detroit, MI	$64,000	$48,130	$71,820	$63,810
120	Grand Island, NE	$64,000	$54,560	$68,660	$73,850
121	Lancaster, PA	$64,000	$51,730	$70,030	$65,140
122	Missoula, MT	$63,900	$49,230	$71,120	$66,260
123	Allentown, PA-NJ	$63,790	$49,380	$70,890	$63,810
124	Tallahassee, FL	$63,770	$43,220	$73,880	$67,900
125	Harrisburg, PA	$63,670	$50,590	$70,120	$64,540
126	Glens Falls, NY	$63,440	$52,480	$68,850	$66,870
127	Greenville, NC	$63,400	$47,170	$71,390	$71,720
128	Jacksonville, NC	$63,340	$48,240	$70,780	$68,780
129	Eau Claire, WI	$63,290	$58,030	$65,890	$68,200
130	Columbus, OH	$63,270	$50,480	$69,560	$66,270
131	Davenport, IA-IL	$63,250	$49,840	$69,870	$71,000
132	Iowa City, IA	$63,250	$48,860	$70,350	$69,120
133	Kahului, HI	$63,210	$49,420	$69,990	$57,780
134	Ames, IA	$63,000	$46,240	$71,260	$70,920
135	Omaha, NE-IA	$62,940	$49,840	$69,390	$68,480
136	Dubuque, IA	$62,880	$56,870	$65,850	$72,000
137	Ithaca, NY	$62,710	$49,500	$69,220	$60,700
138	Cleveland, OH	$62,690	$48,280	$69,800	$66,750
139	Monroe, MI	$62,570	$54,560	$66,500	$66,930
140	Reading, PA	$62,570	$47,760	$69,870	$64,470
141	Decatur, AL	$62,520	$43,410	$71,950	$71,690
142	Huntsville, AL	$62,520	$39,670	$73,780	$67,170
143	Scranton, PA	$62,360	$46,590	$70,140	$66,660
144	Cedar Rapids, IA	$62,300	$46,030	$70,300	$70,030
145	Charlottesville, VA	$62,300	$48,650	$69,010	$62,840
146	Ogden, UT	$62,300	$45,050	$70,780	$62,080
147	Salt Lake City, UT	$62,300	$47,840	$69,430	$61,760
148	La Crosse, WI-MN	$62,230	$50,610	$67,950	$67,810
149	Port St. Lucie, FL	$62,190	$47,110	$69,640	$62,050
150	Syracuse, NY	$62,170	$50,320	$68,000	$64,930
151	Buffalo, NY	$62,110	$48,880	$68,620	$64,800
152	Sandusky, OH	$62,090	$50,790	$67,660	$69,540
153	Lima, OH	$62,050	$49,550	$68,220	$69,200
154	Harrisonburg, VA	$61,980	$45,280	$70,200	$65,320
155	Elmira, NY	$61,840	$51,460	$66,960	$65,510
156	Sebastian, FL	$61,840	$44,030	$70,620	$62,900
157	Tampa, FL	$61,800	$44,840	$70,160	$61,250
158	State College, PA	$61,610	$47,880	$68,390	$63,670
159	Raleigh, NC	$61,590	$49,320	$67,620	$62,750
160	St. George, UT	$61,480	$44,240	$69,970	$63,170
161	North Port, FL	$61,440	$44,140	$69,970	$59,990
162	Fond du Lac, WI	$61,380	$51,560	$66,210	$66,980
163	St. Louis, MO-IL	$61,380	$46,200	$68,850	$64,550
164	Erie, PA	$61,300	$50,210	$66,770	$67,400
165	York, PA	$61,280	$48,280	$67,680	$63,830
166	Pittsfield, MA	$61,210	$47,170	$68,120	$64,360
167	Wausau, WI	$61,050	$52,400	$65,310	$65,890
168	Akron, OH	$60,940	$51,250	$65,710	$65,270
169	Lexington Park, MD	$60,900	$47,690	$67,410	$60,440
170	Cleveland, TN	$60,470	$41,450	$69,830	$68,650
171	Austin, TX	$60,440	$46,530	$67,310	$61,630
172	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$60,360	$47,440	$66,710	$69,820
173	Bismarck, ND	$60,340	$51,270	$64,810	$66,290
174	Fort Wayne, IN	$60,110	$45,240	$67,410	$64,930
175	Idaho Falls, ID	$60,110	$41,520	$69,260	$63,670
176	Lebanon, PA	$59,970	$47,590	$66,060	$64,340
177	Altoona, PA	$59,860	$50,040	$64,710	$66,880
178	Richmond, VA	$59,800	$45,530	$66,830	$61,110
179	Grand Rapids, MI	$59,780	$45,470	$66,830	$62,570
180	Beaumont, TX	$59,760	$40,660	$69,180	$66,370
181	Greenville, SC	$59,760	$42,830	$68,120	$64,080
182	Kankakee, IL	$59,650	$40,560	$69,080	$61,880
183	Helena, MT	$59,610	$47,070	$65,790	$62,300
184	Flagstaff, AZ	$59,570	$45,820	$66,330	$59,380
185	Dayton, OH	$59,550	$47,340	$65,560	$64,240
186	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$59,510	$45,260	$66,520	$60,760
187	Boise City, ID	$59,450	$46,550	$65,790	$60,420
188	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$59,240	$44,620	$66,440	$62,120
189	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$59,240	$45,740	$65,870	$65,360
190	Kingston, NY	$59,090	$48,280	$64,420	$58,670
191	Fayetteville, NC	$59,010	$42,180	$67,310	$64,160
192	Cape Coral, FL	$58,990	$44,700	$66,020	$57,640
193	Durham, NC	$58,930	$45,880	$65,350	$60,400
194	Charlotte, NC-SC	$58,860	$43,890	$66,230	$60,460
195	Chambersburg, PA	$58,840	$46,950	$64,710	$62,170
196	Spartanburg, SC	$58,800	$44,390	$65,920	$64,580
197	Florence, SC	$58,760	$42,580	$66,750	$67,720
198	Toledo, OH	$58,740	$45,430	$65,290	$64,230
199	Indianapolis, IN	$58,660	$44,990	$65,400	$61,300
200	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$58,660	$41,230	$67,250	$63,640
201	Binghamton, NY	$58,610	$48,150	$63,770	$63,110
202	Wilmington, NC	$58,590	$46,320	$64,630	$60,760
203	Niles, MI	$58,450	$46,320	$64,420	$63,280
204	Elkhart, IN	$58,360	$46,130	$64,380	$64,610
205	Gadsden, AL	$58,320	$39,170	$67,750	$68,090
206	Gainesville, FL	$58,300	$40,250	$67,200	$60,270
207	Flint, MI	$58,260	$49,070	$62,770	$62,620
208	Traverse City, MI	$58,240	$46,990	$63,770	$62,370
209	Knoxville, TN	$58,200	$41,500	$66,440	$62,870
210	Nashville, TN	$57,910	$42,640	$65,420	$60,110
211	Johnstown, PA	$57,800	$40,980	$66,080	$67,260
212	Daphne, AL	$57,760	$41,910	$65,560	$61,000
213	Lake Charles, LA	$57,550	$40,620	$65,890	$67,030
214	Provo, UT	$57,430	$44,260	$63,920	$58,460
215	Lawrence, KS	$57,320	$45,510	$63,150	$63,520
216	Utica, NY	$57,320	$43,160	$64,310	$61,850
217	Hilton Head Island, SC	$57,300	$43,010	$64,360	$58,460
218	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$57,140	$44,910	$63,170	$58,130
219	Corpus Christi, TX	$57,120	$39,730	$65,690	$61,640
220	Tucson, AZ	$57,050	$43,890	$63,540	$58,880
221	Lewiston, ID-WA	$56,800	$43,490	$63,360	$62,310
222	Minot, ND	$56,800	$45,760	$62,230	$65,270
223	Owensboro, KY	$56,780	$35,840	$67,100	$64,080
224	Williamsport, PA	$56,720	$45,260	$62,360	$61,420
225	Twin Falls, ID	$56,680	$43,010	$63,420	$61,540
226	Atlanta, GA	$56,640	$42,700	$63,520	$56,610
227	Kansas City, MO-KS	$56,620	$44,410	$62,630	$61,180
228	Orlando, FL	$56,620	$41,100	$64,250	$55,830
229	Jackson, MI	$56,560	$47,010	$61,260	$61,630
230	Auburn, AL	$56,510	$37,730	$65,770	$64,260
231	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$56,470	$43,620	$62,800	$59,970
232	Muskegon, MI	$56,180	$43,220	$62,550	$60,720
233	Evansville, IN	$56,100	$45,640	$61,240	$61,290
234	Staunton, VA	$56,080	$43,470	$62,280	$61,540
235	Prescott Valley, AZ	$56,040	$44,510	$61,710	$57,040
236	Jackson, TN	$55,970	$41,230	$63,230	$65,450
237	Lafayette, IN	$55,970	$46,200	$60,780	$59,910
238	Logan, UT-ID	$55,950	$41,080	$63,290	$58,330
239	Dalton, GA	$55,700	$42,740	$62,090	$62,000
240	Rapid City, SD	$55,700	$47,130	$59,920	$62,470
241	Battle Creek, MI	$55,660	$48,010	$59,450	$61,470
242	Lynchburg, VA	$55,660	$42,890	$61,960	$62,290
243	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$55,470	$40,000	$63,110	$59,600
244	Crestview, FL	$55,330	$44,180	$60,840	$57,020
245	Houston, TX	$55,330	$40,830	$62,480	$56,100
246	Bay City, MI	$55,310	$45,260	$60,240	$60,170
247	San Antonio, TX	$55,220	$42,330	$61,570	$58,300
248	Canton, OH	$55,160	$46,180	$59,590	$61,700
249	Charleston, SC	$55,100	$40,310	$62,400	$54,570
250	Columbia, MO	$55,040	$44,030	$60,470	$61,540
251	Warner Robins, GA	$55,040	$43,280	$60,820	$58,680
252	Montgomery, AL	$55,020	$41,310	$61,760	$61,350
253	Dallas, TX	$55,000	$43,200	$60,800	$53,350
254	Michigan City, IN	$55,000	$44,180	$60,320	$59,990
255	Kalamazoo, MI	$54,950	$43,200	$60,760	$57,940
256	Saginaw, MI	$54,830	$47,610	$58,390	$60,330
257	Punta Gorda, FL	$54,810	$44,760	$59,740	$54,520
258	Salisbury, MD	$54,750	$42,810	$60,630	$57,260
259	Watertown, NY	$54,720	$42,870	$60,570	$62,400
260	Albuquerque, NM	$54,700	$39,790	$62,050	$57,250
261	Elizabethtown, KY	$54,660	$35,590	$64,040	$60,350
262	Columbia, SC	$54,580	$41,640	$60,940	$58,270
263	Ocala, FL	$54,540	$42,520	$60,470	$57,270
264	Birmingham, AL	$54,430	$38,880	$62,090	$59,390
265	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$54,410	$43,530	$59,760	$57,820
266	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$54,390	$42,520	$60,220	$63,190
267	South Bend, IN-MI	$54,350	$45,660	$58,610	$58,530
268	Tuscaloosa, AL	$54,230	$40,810	$60,840	$61,820
269	Lakeland, FL	$54,180	$37,770	$62,250	$55,770
270	New Orleans, LA	$54,080	$36,420	$62,800	$58,400
271	Myrtle Beach, SC	$53,980	$40,850	$60,420	$57,650
272	Augusta, GA-SC	$53,960	$39,690	$60,990	$58,710
273	Winston, NC	$53,910	$45,140	$58,260	$58,570
274	Pensacola, FL	$53,660	$40,660	$60,070	$54,910
275	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$53,620	$41,540	$59,590	$62,070
276	Farmington, NM	$53,600	$42,410	$59,110	$61,110
277	Winchester, VA-WV	$53,350	$38,580	$60,630	$55,310
278	Las Cruces, NM	$53,310	$34,800	$62,440	$59,090
279	Deltona, FL	$53,210	$41,250	$59,090	$53,550
280	Muncie, IN	$53,160	$42,990	$58,180	$60,310
281	Paducah, KY-IL	$53,100	$37,020	$61,030	$61,680
282	Hinesville, GA	$53,080	$42,680	$58,220	$56,510
283	Charleston, WV	$53,000	$38,650	$60,070	$59,740
284	Asheville, NC	$52,980	$45,120	$56,850	$54,900
285	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$52,980	$40,480	$59,130	$57,920
286	Sierra Vista, AZ	$52,980	$38,130	$60,300	$59,370
287	Waco, TX	$52,940	$39,120	$59,760	$57,200
288	Beckley, WV	$52,920	$39,370	$59,590	$59,890
289	Oklahoma City, OK	$52,920	$40,600	$58,990	$58,530
290	Rocky Mount, NC	$52,870	$42,330	$58,070	$60,070
291	Yuma, AZ	$52,770	$37,980	$60,070	$56,920
292	Springfield, MO	$52,710	$40,960	$58,490	$59,500
293	Greensboro, NC	$52,480	$40,790	$58,240	$56,510
294	Midland, TX	$52,350	$42,620	$57,140	$54,650
295	Terre Haute, IN	$52,230	$38,560	$58,970	$59,490
296	Weirton, WV-OH	$52,230	$40,560	$57,970	$58,670
297	Lubbock, TX	$52,210	$39,830	$58,300	$57,170
298	Youngstown, OH	$52,120	$38,920	$58,640	$59,640
299	College Station, TX	$51,710	$40,660	$57,160	$56,850
300	Wheeling, WV-OH	$51,690	$40,080	$57,410	$58,520
301	Mansfield, OH	$51,480	$42,330	$55,990	$57,930
302	Baton Rouge, LA	$51,420	$37,940	$58,050	$56,640
303	Kingsport, TN-VA	$51,250	$37,840	$57,840	$59,280
304	Hattiesburg, MS	$51,170	$35,300	$58,970	$58,390
305	Macon, GA	$51,150	$36,070	$58,570	$57,780
306	Victoria, TX	$51,150	$42,810	$55,270	$56,940
307	Gainesville, GA	$50,860	$43,370	$54,540	$52,560
308	Sherman, TX	$50,790	$42,560	$54,870	$54,160
309	Savannah, GA	$50,730	$41,290	$55,390	$53,280
310	Joplin, MO-KS	$50,520	$36,500	$57,430	$58,940
311	Manhattan, KS	$50,520	$38,250	$56,580	$56,030
312	Tyler, TX	$50,380	$39,790	$55,600	$54,670
313	Parkersburg, WV	$50,340	$42,410	$54,230	$57,820
314	Palm Bay, FL	$50,320	$39,480	$55,640	$50,320
315	Fayetteville, AR	$50,230	$39,960	$55,290	$54,980
316	Jackson, MS	$50,210	$36,710	$56,850	$56,390
317	Little Rock, AR	$49,940	$36,840	$56,410	$55,880
318	Albany, GA	$49,900	$38,880	$55,330	$56,920
319	Jefferson City, MO	$49,900	$39,670	$54,930	$56,720
320	Mobile, AL	$49,880	$32,510	$58,450	$56,620
321	Wichita, KS	$49,690	$36,380	$56,260	$55,870
322	Columbus, GA-AL	$49,440	$35,840	$56,160	$55,370
323	Clarksville, TN-KY	$49,400	$40,000	$54,040	$54,320
324	Alexandria, LA	$49,360	$36,860	$55,540	$57,610
325	El Paso, TX	$49,340	$39,730	$54,060	$54,880
326	Topeka, KS	$49,320	$34,360	$56,660	$55,530
327	Panama City, FL	$49,300	$38,000	$54,850	$50,670
328	Tulsa, OK	$49,090	$37,150	$54,970	$55,020
329	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$49,070	$35,130	$55,930	$55,500
330	Roanoke, VA	$48,920	$35,210	$55,680	$52,250
331	Gulfport, MS	$48,800	$36,710	$54,720	$54,220
332	Bloomington, IN	$48,780	$33,160	$56,450	$51,300
333	Dothan, AL	$48,590	$32,720	$56,410	$57,960
334	Slidell, LA	$48,570	$35,940	$54,790	$52,380
335	Anniston, AL	$48,530	$34,320	$55,540	$56,460
336	Morristown, TN	$48,420	$36,940	$54,060	$56,070
337	Lexington, KY	$48,240	$34,510	$55,000	$51,930
338	Killeen, TX	$48,130	$36,980	$53,620	$52,810
339	Burlington, NC	$48,050	$39,940	$52,060	$51,560
340	Athens, GA	$47,920	$37,380	$53,140	$51,340
341	Johnson City, TN	$47,880	$38,230	$52,620	$54,450
342	Bowling Green, KY	$47,690	$33,880	$54,500	$52,880
343	Brunswick, GA	$47,650	$38,170	$52,310	$54,330
344	Longview, TX	$47,490	$37,670	$52,310	$53,070
345	Abilene, TX	$47,400	$39,830	$51,130	$52,450
346	Morgantown, WV	$46,900	$36,170	$52,210	$50,260
347	Houma, LA	$46,820	$33,240	$53,520	$55,020
348	Hickory, NC	$46,740	$36,900	$51,580	$52,820
349	Sumter, SC	$46,680	$37,230	$51,310	$53,030
350	Sebring, FL	$46,280	$36,520	$51,080	$50,050
351	Lafayette, LA	$45,360	$34,150	$50,880	$52,010
352	Lawton, OK	$45,220	$35,110	$50,190	$52,620
353	San Angelo, TX	$45,070	$39,850	$47,670	$48,750
354	Rome, GA	$44,470	$37,610	$47,860	$49,320
355	Monroe, LA	$44,140	$34,110	$49,090	$52,800
356	Amarillo, TX	$44,100	$33,260	$49,440	$48,030
357	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$43,890	$35,070	$48,240	$51,100
358	Laredo, TX	$43,700	$37,750	$46,610	$50,260
359	Jonesboro, AR	$43,560	$31,600	$49,440	$50,720
360	Texarkana, TX-AR	$43,280	$33,840	$47,940	$51,520
361	Wichita Falls, TX	$43,220	$36,000	$46,800	$48,280
362	Brownsville, TX	$43,200	$29,310	$50,040	$50,250
363	Valdosta, GA	$42,080	$34,280	$45,930	$47,670
364	Shreveport, LA	$40,770	$31,530	$45,320	$48,100
365	McAllen, TX	$39,290	$30,120	$43,830	$45,740
366	Hot Springs, AR	$38,400	$27,890	$43,580	$44,790
367	San Juan, PR	$29,080	$22,070	$32,530	N/A

More on water treatment operators

Water Treatment Operator career profile Water Treatment Operator salary by state Will AI replace water treatment operators?Cost of living calculator

Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Water Treatment Operator salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays water treatment operators the most?

San Francisco, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $116,790 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($107,000), Vallejo, CA ($99,510), Napa, CA ($97,320). The national mean is $62,540 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do water treatment operators earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Francisco, CA ($101,020 at national prices, $116,790 nominal), San Jose, CA ($96,900 at national prices, $107,000 nominal), Vallejo, CA ($91,730 at national prices, $99,510 nominal).

How much do water treatment operators make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $81,950; Los Angeles, CA: $86,470; Chicago, IL-IN: $80,080; Dallas, TX: $55,000; Houston, TX: $55,330 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do water treatment operators earn the least?

Of the 367 metro areas with their own estimate, San Juan, PR has the lowest mean wage, $29,080.