The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in South Dakota is around $53,370 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $53,370.
Wages typically start from $43,890 and go up to $73,170.
14% below national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$35.18 per hour
$73,170 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$29.92 per hour
$62,230 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$25.66 per hour
$53,370 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$23.13 per hour
$48,100 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$21.10 per hour
$43,890 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 10% less than similar careers in South Dakota. On average, they make less than occupational health specialists but more than chemical technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Occupational health specialist salary | $89K |
| Logistician salary | $80K |
| Industrial designer salary | $60K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $60K |
| Quality control inspector salary | $52K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $53K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $48K |
| Welder salary | $49K |
| Machinist salary | $51K |
| Chemical technician salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)