Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Arkansas: $47,000 Average

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Average base salary, Arkansas

$47,000 / year

≈ $3,900 per month · $22.60 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for Arkansas · median $46,000

25th percentile
$38,500Average
$47,00075th percentile
$54,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by state

Alabama$57,000

Alaska$71,000

Arizona$63,500

Arkansas$47,000

California$90,000

Colorado$75,000

Connecticut$81,500

Delaware$68,500

Florida$63,500

Georgia$53,500

Hawaii$67,000

Idaho$57,000

Illinois$74,500

Indiana$58,500

Iowa$63,000

Kansas$51,000

Kentucky$49,500

Louisiana$50,000

Maine$67,500

Maryland$67,000

Massachusetts$72,500

Michigan$62,000

Minnesota$74,000

Mississippi$51,000

Missouri$55,000

Montana$63,500

Nebraska$62,500

Nevada$83,500

New Hampshire$67,000

New Jersey$80,000

New Mexico$56,000

New York$72,000

North Carolina$56,500

North Dakota$64,500

Ohio$61,000

Oklahoma$49,000

Oregon$73,000

Pennsylvania$66,500

Rhode Island$66,500

South Carolina$58,000

South Dakota$57,500

Tennessee$55,500

Texas$53,500

Utah$64,000

Vermont$69,500

Virginia$62,500

Washington$85,500

West Virginia$52,500

Wisconsin$66,500

Wyoming$74,000

About this role

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is a professional role in the Production job family, focused on Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operatorss do

Typical education: High School Diploma

Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.

Top skills: Operation and Control Operations Monitoring Monitoring Troubleshooting Speaking Repairing

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by industry

Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS

96,290 workers

$65,000

Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

95,100 workers

$65,000

Utilities

17,880 workers

$63,500

Sectors 31, 32, and 33 – Manufacturing

5,440 workers

$63,500

Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

3,470 workers

$63,500

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

1,780 workers

$64,000

State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

1,130 workers

$76,000

Construction

1,030 workers

$71,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pays 17% above the average across 105 roles in the Production job family (family average $55,000).

Similar-paying roles in Production

Model Makers, Wood$66,000

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$63,000

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic$62,500

Machinist$61,500

Plant and System Operators, All Other$68,000

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$69,000

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$60,000

Tire Builder$59,000

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$58,500

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic$71,000

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators make?

The average base salary for a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the United States is $64,500 per year, or about $31.01 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $49,500 and $77,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Production roles?

The Production job family averages $55,000 across 105 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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