Best states for a wastewater treatment operator

Q: What is the best state for wastewater treatment operators?

The best state to be a wastewater treatment operator is Idaho based on wastewater treatment operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for wastewater treatment operators?

The highest paying state for wastewater treatment operators is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for wastewater treatment operators?

The worst state for wastewater treatment operators is Georgia, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to wastewater treatment operator jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. In fact, our research shows that Idaho is the best state for wastewater treatment operators in America. The best city in America for wastewater treatment operators with the highest pay is Mercer Island, WA.

Idaho is the best state for jobs for wastewater treatment operators, and Georgia is the worst. The most common pay in Idaho is $74,148, while the median pay in Georgia is $35,132.We found that Idaho is the best state for wastewater treatment operator jobs, whereas Georgia is the worst.

10 best states for wastewater treatment operators in 2026

1. Idaho
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 41
Average annual salary: $74,148
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in Idaho
2. Vermont
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 35
Average annual salary: $66,094
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
1.85
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in Vermont
3. Maine
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 33
Average annual salary: $71,013
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in Maine
4. Alaska
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 95
Average annual salary: $65,438
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000
Location Quotient:
4.61
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in Alaska
5. New Jersey
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 905
Average annual salary: $60,602
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
4.62
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in New Jersey
6. North Dakota
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 22
Average annual salary: $60,213
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in North Dakota
7. Rhode Island
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 151
Average annual salary: $53,892
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Location Quotient:
5.03
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in Rhode Island
8. Massachusetts
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 1,243
Average annual salary: $55,107
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
5.48
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in Massachusetts
9. Nevada
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 52
Average annual salary: $54,508
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in Nevada
10. Washington
Total wastewater treatment operator jobs: 100
Average annual salary: $72,869
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
0.55
Wastewater treatment operator jobs in Washington

Wastewater treatment operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a wastewater treatment operator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a wastewater treatment operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Idaho	$74,148	$54,000	1,716,943	41
2	Vermont	$66,094	$47,000	623,657	35
3	Maine	$71,013	$51,000	1,335,907	33
4	Alaska	$65,438	$57,000	739,795	95
5	New Jersey	$60,602	$42,000	9,005,644	905
6	North Dakota	$60,213	$46,000	755,393	22
7	Rhode Island	$53,892	$37,000	1,059,639	151
8	Massachusetts	$55,107	$39,000	6,859,819	1,243
9	Nevada	$54,508	$37,000	2,998,039	52
10	Washington	$72,869	$54,000	7,405,743	100
11	Iowa	$51,567	$37,000	3,145,711	135
12	Delaware	$55,027	$37,000	961,939	30
13	California	$66,763	$45,000	39,536,653	400
14	Oregon	$56,974	$41,000	4,142,776	67
15	West Virginia	$49,980	$34,000	1,815,857	38
16	Colorado	$56,459	$41,000	5,607,154	97
17	Utah	$51,694	$37,000	3,101,833	60
18	Ohio	$52,247	$36,000	11,658,609	168
19	Connecticut	$54,833	$38,000	3,588,184	60
20	Nebraska	$50,568	$37,000	1,920,076	49
21	District of Columbia	$52,555	$36,000	693,972	122
22	Wisconsin	$49,775	$35,000	5,795,483	154
23	Wyoming	$48,359	$35,000	579,315	24
24	Minnesota	$52,151	$38,000	5,576,606	122
25	New Hampshire	$50,392	$36,000	1,342,795	43
26	Illinois	$53,569	$38,000	12,802,023	154
27	South Dakota	$46,323	$34,000	869,666	38
28	Montana	$46,408	$35,000	1,050,493	44
29	Hawaii	$47,718	$36,000	1,427,538	95
30	Indiana	$47,935	$33,000	6,666,818	120
31	New York	$50,757	$35,000	19,849,399	200
32	Arizona	$43,922	$31,000	7,016,270	110
33	Pennsylvania	$46,076	$31,000	12,805,537	185
34	New Mexico	$41,578	$30,000	2,088,070	42
35	Virginia	$49,251	$33,000	8,470,020	111
36	Kansas	$40,344	$29,000	2,913,123	64
37	Michigan	$46,288	$32,000	9,962,311	97
38	Kentucky	$39,106	$27,000	4,454,189	68
39	Tennessee	$39,829	$28,000	6,715,984	95
40	Missouri	$41,583	$30,000	6,113,532	91
41	Mississippi	$34,149	$24,000	2,984,100	62
42	Alabama	$39,510	$28,000	4,874,747	68
43	North Carolina	$37,686	$26,000	10,273,419	176
44	Maryland	$42,707	$29,000	6,052,177	93
45	Oklahoma	$37,235	$27,000	3,930,864	49
46	Texas	$37,566	$27,000	28,304,596	279
47	South Carolina	$32,023	$22,000	5,024,369	96
48	Louisiana	$34,653	$24,000	4,684,333	55
49	Florida	$35,382	$24,000	20,984,400	246
50	Arkansas	$34,165	$25,000	3,004,279	38
51	Georgia	$35,132	$25,000	10,429,379	132

Highest paying states for wastewater treatment operators

Rank	State	Avg. Wastewater Treatment Operator Salary
1	Idaho	$74,148
2	Vermont	$66,094
3	Maine	$71,013
4	Alaska	$65,438
5	New Jersey	$60,602
6	North Dakota	$60,213
7	Rhode Island	$53,892
8	Massachusetts	$55,107
9	Nevada	$54,508
10	Washington	$72,869
11	Iowa	$51,567
12	Delaware	$55,027
13	California	$66,763
14	Oregon	$56,974
15	West Virginia	$49,980
16	Colorado	$56,459
17	Utah	$51,694
18	Ohio	$52,247
19	Connecticut	$54,833
20	Nebraska	$50,568
21	District of Columbia	$52,555
22	Wisconsin	$49,775
23	Wyoming	$48,359
24	Minnesota	$52,151
25	New Hampshire	$50,392
26	Illinois	$53,569
27	South Dakota	$46,323
28	Montana	$46,408
29	Hawaii	$47,718
30	Indiana	$47,935
31	New York	$50,757
32	Arizona	$43,922
33	Pennsylvania	$46,076
34	New Mexico	$41,578
35	Virginia	$49,251
36	Kansas	$40,344
37	Michigan	$46,288
38	Kentucky	$39,106
39	Tennessee	$39,829
40	Missouri	$41,583
41	Mississippi	$34,149
42	Alabama	$39,510
43	North Carolina	$37,686
44	Maryland	$42,707
45	Oklahoma	$37,235
46	Texas	$37,566
47	South Carolina	$32,023
48	Louisiana	$34,653
49	Florida	$35,382
50	Arkansas	$34,165
51	Georgia	$35,132

Wastewater treatment operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for wastewater treatment operators?

What is the highest paying state for wastewater treatment operators?

What is the worst state for wastewater treatment operators?

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Best states for Wastewater Treatment Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total wastewater treatment operator jobs:	41
Average annual salary:	$74,148
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$54,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$101,000
Location Quotient:	1.01

Best states for a wastewater treatment operator

10 best states for wastewater treatment operators in 2026

1. Idaho

2. Vermont

3. Maine

4. Alaska

5. New Jersey

6. North Dakota

7. Rhode Island

8. Massachusetts

9. Nevada

10. Washington