Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay range in Champaign
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,700 or more. The middle half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Champaign earn between $52,690 and $77,150.
- $39K10th
- $53K25th
- $62KMedian
- $77K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,580 | $5,382 | $31.05 |
| Median | $61,720 | $5,143 | $29.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,690 | $4,391 | $25.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,150 | $6,429 | $37.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Champaign vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Champaign earn 10% less than the Illinois average ($71,820) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($62,540). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $60,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $64,580 | $61,720 | $38,670 | $85,700 | 90 |
| Illinois | $71,820 | $67,810 | $42,240 | $103,690 | 3,500 |
| United States | $62,540 | $60,020 | $39,110 | $91,060 | 128,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary after taxes in Champaign
On the average salary of $64,580, a single filer in Champaign takes home about $51,014 a year, or $4,251 a month and $1,962 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Champaign a good place for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Champaign area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $64,580 buys what about $69,663 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Champaign ($50,700). A typical home costs $237,290, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Champaign ranks 6th of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($80,080).
- Chicago$80,080
- Rockford$76,090
- Bloomington$73,300
- Springfield$67,240
- Decatur$66,350
- Champaign$64,580
- Peoria$64,280
- Kankakee$59,660
All Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($116,800).
- San Francisco, CA$116,800
- San Jose, CA$106,990
- Vallejo, CA$99,500
- Napa, CA$97,320
- Fairbanks, AK$93,870
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by city
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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Champaign: questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make an hour in Champaign?
$31.05 an hour on average, and $29.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in Champaign?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators take-home pay in Champaign?
About $51,014 a year ($4,251 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,580.
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more in Champaign than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($62,540).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8031; area Champaign-Urbana, IL (16580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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