Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in New York-Newark-Jersey City

In New York-Newark-Jersey City (NY), the median pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is $40.06 an hour ($83,320 a year). About 3,690 people work in this job there.

$40.06Median hourly pay
$64,160–$101,550Middle half of workers, yearly
3,690People in this job in New York-Newark-Jersey City (NY)

That is 39% higher than the U.S. median ($60,020). It is 30% higher than the New York median ($63,990).

Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in New York-Newark-Jersey City (NY)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$25.02$52,030
25% of workers$30.85$64,160
Half of workers (median)$40.06$83,320
75% of workers$48.82$101,550
90% of workers$49.28$102,500

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in New York metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
New York-Newark-Jersey City (this page)$83,3203,690
Albany-Schenectady-Troy$63,120360
Buffalo-Cheektowaga$63,080580
Rochester$62,950360
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh$62,550280
Ithaca$61,36040
Elmira$61,05040
Syracuse$60,840190
Glens Falls$59,750100
Kingston$59,750140
Binghamton$55,38080
Watertown-Fort Drum$53,69070
Utica-Rome$50,920150

New York unemployment rate: 4.3% (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 New York-Newark-Jersey City (NY)

JobMedian yearly pay
Civil Engineers$107,330
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$54,790
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$104,810
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,690
Power Plant Operators$131,770

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.