The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in Iowa is around $60,990 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $60,990.
Wages typically start from $46,880 and go up to $76,040.
11% below national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$36.56 per hour
$76,040 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$32.40 per hour
$67,390 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$29.32 per hour
$60,990 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$24.18 per hour
$50,300 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$22.54 per hour
$46,880 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 Iowa. On average, they make less than boilermakers but more than glaziers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Boilermaker salary | $82K |
| Industrial designer salary | $70K |
| Non-Destructive testing specialist salary | $63K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $65K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $66K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $61K |
| Rigger salary | $62K |
| Chemical technician salary | $58K |
| Machinist salary | $58K |
| Glazier salary | $57K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)