Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Michigan
$60,080avg. a year
$28.88 an hour · 3,400 employed
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Michigan earn an average of $60,080 a year. That is $2,460 (4%) less than the U.S. average of $62,540. The best-paying metro area is Ann Arbor, MI at $67,380.
$59,270Median pay
$28.88Average hourly
+18%Avg. pay since 2020
#31Of 50 states
Top-paying Michigan metro areas
Average pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators by metro area. Swipe to see all 15.
1130 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI
$67,380
$32.40 an hour
2140 jobs
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
$67,170
$32.29 an hour
31,160 jobs
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$64,010
$30.77 an hour
460 jobs
Monroe, MI
$62,560
$30.08 an hour
5350 jobs
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
$59,780
$28.74 an hour
670 jobs
Niles, MI
$58,450
$28.10 an hour
7160 jobs
Flint, MI
$58,250
$28.01 an hour
890 jobs
Traverse City, MI
$58,230
$28.00 an hour
950 jobs
Jackson, MI
$56,560
$27.19 an hour
1040 jobs
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
$56,170
$27.01 an hour
1160 jobs
Battle Creek, MI
$55,660
$26.76 an hour
1280 jobs
Bay City, MI
$55,300
$26.59 an hour
1350 jobs
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
$54,960
$26.42 an hour
14110 jobs
Saginaw, MI
$54,830
$26.36 an hour
15100 jobs
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
$54,340
$26.13 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Michigan, charted
Pay over time
Michigan, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Michigan water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Michigan highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $55k$55k–$62k$62k–$69k$69k+Michigan
Michigan vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| Michigan | $60,080 | $28.88 |
| Wisconsin | $64,070 | $30.80 |
| Ohio | $58,990 | $28.36 |
| Indiana | $56,680 | $27.25 |
Related jobs in Michigan
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$51,360
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,570
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,070
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,820
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$44,110
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$81,490
Average pay, Michigan, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Michigan?
The average is $60,080 a year, and the median is $59,270. That is $2,460 (4%) less than the U.S. average of $62,540.
What is the hourly wage in Michigan?
$28.88 an hour on average; the median is $28.49.
Where in Michigan do they earn the most?
Ann Arbor, MI ($67,380), followed by Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($67,170). The lowest average among 15 metro areas with data is South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ($54,340).
How does Michigan rank?
Michigan ranks #31 of 50 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 51-8031. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.