The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in North Carolina is around $51,680 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $51,680.
Wages typically start from $37,860 and go up to $75,600.
22% below national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$36.35 per hour
$75,600 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$29.68 per hour
$61,740 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$24.85 per hour
$51,680 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$22.04 per hour
$45,850 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$18.20 per hour
$37,860 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 North Carolina. On average, they make less than oil and gas rotary drill operators but more than drill press operators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $58K |
| Rigger salary | $57K |
| Quarry rock splitter salary | $56K |
| Machinist salary | $55K |
| Machine assembler salary | $46K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $52K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $51K |
| Welder salary | $51K |
| Metal caster salary | $58K |
| Drill press operator salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)