Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay range in McAllen
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,080 or more. The middle half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in McAllen earn between $32,480 and $45,500.
- $30K10th
- $32K25th
- $38KMedian
- $46K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,300 | $3,275 | $18.89 |
| Median | $37,800 | $3,150 | $18.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,480 | $2,707 | $15.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in McAllen vs. Texas and the U.S.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in McAllen earn 24% less than the Texas average ($51,920) and 37% less than the U.S. average ($62,540). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $60,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen | $39,300 | $37,800 | $29,570 | $50,080 | 330 |
| Texas | $51,920 | $49,460 | $36,550 | $70,270 | 10,520 |
| United States | $62,540 | $60,020 | $39,110 | $91,060 | 128,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary after taxes in McAllen
On the average salary of $39,300, a single filer in McAllen takes home about $33,758 a year, or $2,813 a month and $1,298 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is McAllen a good place for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the McAllen area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $39,300 buys what about $45,754 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in McAllen ($35,830). A typical home costs $193,978, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other Texas cities
McAllen ranks 24th of 24 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($60,450).
- Austin$60,450
- Beaumont$59,760
- Corpus Christi$57,120
- Houston$55,330
- San Antonio$55,220
- Dallas$54,990
- Waco$52,940
- Midland$52,340
- Lubbock$52,200
- McAllen$39,300
All Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in Texas
Highest-paying cities for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($116,800).
- San Francisco, CA$116,800
- San Jose, CA$106,990
- Vallejo, CA$99,500
- Napa, CA$97,320
- Fairbanks, AK$93,870
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by city
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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in McAllen: questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make an hour in McAllen?
$18.89 an hour on average, and $18.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in McAllen?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators take-home pay in McAllen?
About $33,758 a year ($2,813 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,300. Texas has no state income tax.
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more in McAllen than elsewhere?
The average here is 37% less than the U.S. average for this job ($62,540).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8031; area McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (32580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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