Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Michigan

In Michigan, the median pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is $28.49 an hour ($59,270 a year). About 3,400 people work in this job there.

$28.49Median hourly pay
$49,790–$64,540Middle half of workers, yearly
3,400People in this job in Michigan

That is about the same as the U.S. median ($60,020). Michigan ranks 29th of 50 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Michigan

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$22.46$46,710
25% of workers$23.94$49,790
Half of workers (median)$28.49$59,270
75% of workers$31.03$64,540
90% of workers$36.50$75,910

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Michigan metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Ann Arbor$66,770130
Monroe$65,36060
Lansing-East Lansing$63,260140
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn$61,7601,160
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood$60,770350
Flint$60,560160
Traverse City$60,39090
Niles$59,94070
Bay City$59,62080
Jackson$59,11050
Muskegon-Norton Shores$58,36040
Saginaw$52,820110
Battle Creek$52,23060
Kalamazoo-Portage$44,78050

Michigan unemployment rate: 5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

  • Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Long-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: -5.7% over ten years, declining · about 10,000 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Michigan

JobMedian yearly pay
Civil Engineers$92,100
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$50,060
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,480
Power Plant Operators$105,820
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$50,040
Gas Plant Operators$100,500

Other job titles for this job

Water Quality TechnicianWater Quality TechWater Treatment SpecialistRelief OperatorSewer OperatorWater Plant OperatorWater Pump OperatorWater PumperBasin TenderBiosolids Management TechnicianBiosolids Management TechClarifying Plant Operator

Open water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators jobs on JAI Bot

No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.

Hiring water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.

Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any job
Add this pay figure to your website (free)

Career sites, schools and workforce boards can show this typical pay on their own pages. Copy this code into your page:

<div data-jaibot-pay></div>
<script src="https://www.jaibot.ai/widget/pay/water-and-wastewater-treatment-plant-and-system-operators/michigan.js" async></script>

It updates by itself when new government figures come out.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.