Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay range in Austin
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,970 or more. The middle half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Austin earn between $49,680 and $67,740.
- $46K10th
- $50K25th
- $62KMedian
- $68K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,450 | $5,038 | $29.06 |
| Median | $61,610 | $5,134 | $29.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,680 | $4,140 | $23.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,740 | $5,645 | $32.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Austin vs. Texas and the U.S.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Austin earn 16% more than the Texas average ($51,920) and 3% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $60,450 | $61,610 | $45,730 | $77,970 | 850 |
| Texas | $51,920 | $49,460 | $36,550 | $70,270 | 10,520 |
| 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 Austin
On the average salary of $60,450, a single filer in Austin takes home about $50,752 a year, or $4,229 a month and $1,952 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Austin a good place for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Austin area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.1), so the average $60,450 buys what about $61,642 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Austin ($56,950). A typical home costs $428,524, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other Texas cities
Austin ranks 1st of 24 Texas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Austin$60,450
- Beaumont$59,760
- Corpus Christi$57,120
- Houston$55,330
- San Antonio$55,220
- Dallas$54,990
- Waco$52,940
- Midland$52,340
- Lubbock$52,200
- College Station$51,710
All Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in Texas
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 Austin: questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make an hour in Austin?
$29.06 an hour on average, and $29.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in Austin?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators take-home pay in Austin?
About $50,752 a year ($4,229 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,450. Texas has no state income tax.
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more in Austin than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less 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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (12420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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