The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in New Jersey is around $78,760 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $78,760.
Wages typically start from $51,050 and go up to $99,240.
5% below national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$47.71 per hour
$99,240 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$44.96 per hour
$93,520 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$37.87 per hour
$78,760 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$29.94 per hour
$62,280 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$24.54 per hour
$51,050 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 New Jersey. On average, they make less than occupational health specialists but more than machinists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Occupational health specialist salary | $91K |
| Non-Destructive testing specialist salary | $87K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $93K |
| Rigger salary | $82K |
| Boilermaker salary | $82K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $79K |
| Glazier salary | $71K |
| Pump operator salary | $65K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $74K |
| Machinist salary | $63K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)