Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, the median pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is $30.44 an hour ($63,310 a year). About 4,660 people work in this job there.

$30.44Median hourly pay

$54,540–$74,300Middle half of workers, yearly

4,660People in this job in Pennsylvania

That is 5% higher than the U.S. median ($60,020). Pennsylvania ranks 16th of 50 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

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

Earns more than	Hourly	Yearly
10% of workers	$21.96	$45,670
25% of workers	$26.22	$54,540
Half of workers (median)	$30.44	$63,310
75% of workers	$35.72	$74,300
90% of workers	$38.69	$80,480

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

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	$66,680	1,650
Pittsburgh	$65,480	1,020
Altoona	$65,110	70
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	$64,190	320
Harrisburg-Carlisle	$63,680	280
Lancaster	$63,630	260
Lebanon	$61,980	40
Reading	$61,300	190
York-Hanover	$61,250	180
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre	$61,110	200
Chambersburg	$60,530	90
Johnstown	$60,500	70
State College	$59,990	110
Erie	$59,180	120
Williamsport	$57,090	50

Pennsylvania unemployment rate: 3.7% (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 Pennsylvania

Job	Median yearly pay
Civil Engineers	$97,850
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	$56,630
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$48,390
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators	$72,900
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners	$52,070
Gas Plant Operators	$80,810
Power Plant Operators	$95,800
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers	$83,870

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.