Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $110,830 or more. The middle half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Chicago earn between $62,120 and $96,250.
- $51K10th
- $62K25th
- $79KMedian
- $96K75th
- $111K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,080 | $6,673 | $38.50 |
| Median | $79,290 | $6,608 | $38.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,120 | $5,177 | $29.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,250 | $8,021 | $46.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Chicago earn 12% more than the Illinois average ($71,820) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($62,540). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $60,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $80,080 | $79,290 | $50,690 | $110,830 | 1,770 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $80,080, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $61,343 a year, or $5,112 a month and $2,359 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $62,794 | $5,233 |
| Working in IL | $61,343 | $5,112 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $80,080 buys what about $77,301 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Chicago: questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make an hour in Chicago?
$38.50 an hour on average, and $38.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $61,343 a year ($5,112 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,080.
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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