The median annual wage of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators was $40,770 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,860, and the top 10 percent earned more than $63,680.
In 2010, about 40 percent of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators were members of a union.
Plants operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In small plants, operators are likely to work during the day and be on call nights and weekends. In medium- and large-size plants that require constant monitoring, operators work in shifts to control the plant at all hours. Operators may be required to work overtime, weekends, or holidays.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition