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Best states for a wastewater plant operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for wastewater plant operators? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for wastewater plant operator jobs.Our research shows that Massachusetts is the best state in the country for wastewater plant operators.
In order to get you the best states for wastewater plant operators, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for wastewater plant operators, and the Northeast is the worst. Redding, CA is the best city in the country for wastewater plant operator jobs, where as Massachusetts is the best state in the country.
10 best states for wastewater plant operators in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 1,143 Average annual salary: $66,464 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 4.38
2. Alaska
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 95 Average annual salary: $65,009 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 4.01
3. Vermont
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $66,041 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
4. New Jersey
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 813 Average annual salary: $60,497 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 3.61
5. Rhode Island
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $53,939 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 4.23
6. Maine
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $71,052 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.5
7. California
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 523 Average annual salary: $66,151 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
8. Washington
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $78,671 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.37
9. Maryland
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 891 Average annual salary: $53,723 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 4.95
10. Colorado
Total wastewater plant operator jobs: 111 Average annual salary: $57,107 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
Wastewater plant operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a wastewater plant operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a wastewater plant operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $66,464 | $47,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,143 |
| 2 | Alaska | $65,009 | $56,000 | 739,795 | 95 |
| 3 | Vermont | $66,041 | $47,000 | 623,657 | 18 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $60,497 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 813 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $53,939 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 146 |
| 6 | Maine | $71,052 | $51,000 | 1,335,907 | 19 |
| 7 | California | $66,151 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 523 |
| 8 | Washington | $78,671 | $58,000 | 7,405,743 | 77 |
| 9 | Maryland | $53,723 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 891 |
| 10 | Colorado | $57,107 | $42,000 | 5,607,154 | 111 |
| 11 | Delaware | $54,838 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 25 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $59,924 | $45,000 | 755,393 | 13 |
| 13 | Montana | $51,487 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 31 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $49,614 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 41 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $49,750 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 198 |
| 16 | Oregon | $60,384 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 47 |
| 17 | Nevada | $54,216 | $37,000 | 2,998,039 | 35 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $51,121 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 217 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $48,132 | $35,000 | 579,315 | 21 |
| 20 | Illinois | $52,631 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 231 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $52,306 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 111 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $50,271 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 41 |
| 23 | Indiana | $47,629 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 167 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $46,110 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 40 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $54,810 | $38,000 | 3,588,184 | 44 |
| 26 | Iowa | $45,962 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 142 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $47,718 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 87 |
| 28 | Arizona | $47,972 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 125 |
| 29 | Idaho | $46,581 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 37 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $50,330 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 24 |
| 31 | Ohio | $43,643 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 237 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $47,227 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 121 |
| 33 | New York | $50,680 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 180 |
| 34 | Michigan | $46,322 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 137 |
| 35 | Kansas | $42,397 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 69 |
| 36 | Utah | $42,193 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 67 |
| 37 | Alabama | $39,295 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 107 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $39,697 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 123 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $38,822 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 83 |
| 40 | Missouri | $41,471 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 86 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $40,148 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 157 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $34,041 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 60 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $36,365 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 91 |
| 44 | Texas | $38,540 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 347 |
| 45 | Florida | $38,655 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 231 |
| 46 | Virginia | $39,953 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 125 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $36,009 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 34 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $34,529 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 61 |
| 49 | Georgia | $35,997 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 180 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $33,315 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 47 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $34,068 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 52 |
Highest paying states for wastewater plant operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Wastewater Plant Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $66,464 |
| 2 | Alaska | $65,009 |
| 3 | Vermont | $66,041 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $60,497 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $53,939 |
| 6 | Maine | $71,052 |
| 7 | California | $66,151 |
| 8 | Washington | $78,671 |
| 9 | Maryland | $53,723 |
| 10 | Colorado | $57,107 |
| 11 | Delaware | $54,838 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $59,924 |
| 13 | Montana | $51,487 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $49,614 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $49,750 |
| 16 | Oregon | $60,384 |
| 17 | Nevada | $54,216 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $51,121 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $48,132 |
| 20 | Illinois | $52,631 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $52,306 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $50,271 |
| 23 | Indiana | $47,629 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $46,110 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $54,810 |
| 26 | Iowa | $45,962 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $47,718 |
| 28 | Arizona | $47,972 |
| 29 | Idaho | $46,581 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $50,330 |
| 31 | Ohio | $43,643 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $47,227 |
| 33 | New York | $50,680 |
| 34 | Michigan | $46,322 |
| 35 | Kansas | $42,397 |
| 36 | Utah | $42,193 |
| 37 | Alabama | $39,295 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $39,697 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $38,822 |
| 40 | Missouri | $41,471 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $40,148 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $34,041 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $36,365 |
| 44 | Texas | $38,540 |
| 45 | Florida | $38,655 |
| 46 | Virginia | $39,953 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $36,009 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $34,529 |
| 49 | Georgia | $35,997 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $33,315 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $34,068 |
Wastewater plant operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025