The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in Illinois is around $67,810 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $67,810.
Wages typically start from $42,240 and go up to $103,690.
3% below national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$49.85 per hour
$103,690 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$39.97 per hour
$83,140 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$32.60 per hour
$67,810 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$26.57 per hour
$55,260 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$20.31 per hour
$42,240 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Water treatment plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $81,770 |
| Nevada | $81,440 |
| Washington | $80,800 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 |
| Colorado | $74,200 |
| Oregon | $69,720 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 |
| Illinois | $67,810 |
| Hawaii | $65,560 |
| Delaware | $64,940 |
| New York | $63,990 |
| Vermont | $63,640 |
| Wisconsin | $63,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 |
| Wyoming | $63,260 |
| New Hampshire | $62,940 |
| Maryland | $61,870 |
| Maine | $61,870 |
| Rhode Island | $61,820 |
| Arizona | $61,340 |
| Utah | $61,290 |
| Nebraska | $61,220 |
| Iowa | $60,990 |
| North Dakota | $60,470 |
| Alaska | $60,160 |
| Virginia | $59,420 |
| Michigan | $59,270 |
| Ohio | $59,170 |
| Florida | $59,030 |
| Montana | $58,040 |
| District of Columbia | $54,880 |
| Indiana | $53,540 |
| South Dakota | $53,370 |
| Idaho | $52,210 |
| South Carolina | $52,090 |
| Alabama | $51,870 |
| North Carolina | $51,680 |
| Tennessee | $50,670 |
| Missouri | $49,940 |
| Texas | $49,460 |
| Georgia | $48,930 |
| New Mexico | $48,190 |
| West Virginia | $47,560 |
| Kansas | $46,780 |
| Mississippi | $46,480 |
| Louisiana | $46,210 |
| Oklahoma | $45,890 |
| Kentucky | $45,430 |
| Arkansas | $44,320 |
| Guam | $40,830 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,950 |
How do water treatment plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Water treatment plant operators earn about the same as related careers in Illinois. On average, they make less than logisticians but more than tool and die makers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Logistician salary | $80K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $87K |
| Non-Destructive testing specialist salary | $80K |
| Rigger salary | $82K |
| Glazier salary | $62K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $68K |
| Chemical technician salary | $62K |
| Mining machine operator salary | $75K |
| Metal caster salary | $57K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $61K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)