Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,690 or more. The middle half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Appleton earn between $64,520 and $75,680.
- $61K10th
- $65K25th
- $65KMedian
- $76K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,530 | $5,711 | $32.95 |
| Median | $64,820 | $5,402 | $31.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,520 | $5,377 | $31.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,680 | $6,307 | $36.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Appleton earn 7% more than the Wisconsin average ($64,070) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($62,540). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $60,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $68,530 | $64,820 | $60,970 | $78,690 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $64,070 | $63,550 | $50,340 | $78,790 | 2,230 |
| 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 Appleton
On the average salary of $68,530, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $54,481 a year, or $4,540 a month and $2,095 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $68,530 buys what about $74,151 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 3rd of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Sheboygan pays the most ($70,070).
- Sheboygan$70,070
- Madison$69,820
- Appleton$68,530
- Green Bay$68,360
- Kenosha$68,300
- Racine$68,030
- Milwaukee$67,590
- Janesville$65,560
- Oshkosh$64,930
- Eau Claire$63,300
All Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in Wisconsin
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 Appleton: questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make an hour in Appleton?
$32.95 an hour on average, and $31.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators take-home pay in Appleton?
About $54,481 a year ($4,540 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,530.
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more 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 Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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