The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in Virginia is around $59,420 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $59,420.
Wages typically start from $38,590 and go up to $79,470.
20% below national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$38.21 per hour
$79,470 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$35.38 per hour
$73,600 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$28.57 per hour
$59,420 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$23.07 per hour
$47,980 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$18.55 per hour
$38,590 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 Virginia. On average, they make less than machinists but more than sheet metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Machinist salary | $61K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $61K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $62K |
| Gem worker salary | $62K |
| Rigger salary | $64K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $59K |
| Welder salary | $59K |
| Glazier salary | $59K |
| Chemical technician salary | $52K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $52K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)