Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators · Texas

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Texas

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Texas earn a median annual wage of $49,460 —17.6% below the national median of $60,020. That ranks TX #41 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$49,460
Median hourly
$23.78
Entry level (P10)
$36,550
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$70,270
90th percentile
Employment
10,520
0.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-17.6%
U.S. $60,020

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$36,550
$41,740
$49,460
$60,810
$36,550$49,460$70,270
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $49,460.

Employment concentration (0.91×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. Texas is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$81,770$39.3111,6300.77
2Nevada$81,440$39.15——
3Washington$80,800$38.852,0300.69
4Connecticut$78,820$37.909800.70
5New Jersey$78,760$37.872,5000.71
6Minnesota$74,670$35.902,2900.94
7Colorado$74,200$35.682,6201.10
8Oregon$69,720$33.521,2400.77
9Massachusetts$68,550$32.962,5100.84
10Illinois$67,810$32.603,5000.69

Related occupations in Texas

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Texas.

Frequently asked questions

How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Texas?

The median annual wage for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Texas is $49,460, or $23.78 per hour. That is 17.6% below the national median of $60,020.

What is the entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in Texas?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $36,550 per year ($17.57/hour). The 25th percentile is $41,740.

How many people work as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Texas?

About 10,520 people work in this occupation in Texas, or 0.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Texas a good state for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?

Texas ranks #41 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.91x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators the most?

California has the highest median wage at $81,770 per year, followed by Nevada ($81,440) and Washington ($80,800).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes