Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator Salary in New York, NY
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $83,320 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,543 take-home, or $5,295 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,500
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,166
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,208
- New York income tax$3,902
- Take-home pay$63,543
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,795 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $60,749 ($5,062 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,030 | $25.01 | $41,773 | $3,481 |
| 25th percentile | $64,160 | $30.85 | $50,865 | $4,239 |
| Median (50th) | $83,320 | $40.06 | $63,543 | $5,295 |
| 75th percentile | $101,550 | $48.82 | $75,319 | $6,277 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,500 | $49.28 | $75,932 | $6,328 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,320 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator's $63,543 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,451 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator jobs are less concentrated in New York, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #1 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $83,320 | $63,543 | $56,451 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,660 | $51,948 | $50,281 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.7% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make in New York, NY?
The median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $83,320 a year, or about $40.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,160 and $101,550.
What is a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $83,320 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $63,543 a year ($5,295 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,902 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $60,020. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,451 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #1 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator — $104,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $81,790
- Machinist — $62,750
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $61,680
- Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker — $61,360
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $58,900
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $58,520
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $56,780
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $54,790
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $50,160
- Printing Press Operator — $49,620
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $47,360