Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Missouri

In Missouri, the median pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is $24.01 an hour ($49,940 a year). About 3,000 people work in this job there.

$24.01Median hourly pay

$45,460–$58,400Middle half of workers, yearly

3,000People in this job in Missouri

That is 17% lower than the U.S. median ($60,020). Missouri ranks 40th of 50 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

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

Earns more than	Hourly	Yearly
10% of workers	$18.56	$38,600
25% of workers	$21.86	$45,460
Half of workers (median)	$24.01	$49,940
75% of workers	$28.08	$58,400
90% of workers	$31.22	$64,930

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

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
St. Louis	$57,850	1,220
Kansas City	$52,770	740
Cape Girardeau	$50,960	60
St. Joseph	$50,670	90
Columbia	$50,270	90
Joplin	$49,750	100
Springfield	$49,270	150
Jefferson City	$48,550	70

Missouri unemployment rate: 3.5% (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 Missouri

Job	Median yearly pay
Civil Engineers	$92,750
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	$50,640
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$49,290
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners	$51,560

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

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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.