Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay range in Fairbanks
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,920 or more. The middle half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Fairbanks earn between $83,010 and $102,750.
- $52K10th
- $83K25th
- $100KMedian
- $103K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,870 | $7,822 | $45.13 |
| Median | $99,840 | $8,320 | $48.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,010 | $6,918 | $39.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,750 | $8,562 | $49.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in Fairbanks vs. Alaska and the U.S.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Fairbanks earn 37% more than the Alaska average ($68,600) and 50% more than the U.S. average ($62,540). At the median the gap is +66% against the U.S. median of $60,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | $93,870 | $99,840 | $52,200 | $106,920 | 40 |
| Alaska | $68,600 | $60,160 | $35,200 | $99,840 | 750 |
| 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 Fairbanks
On the average salary of $93,870, a single filer in Fairbanks takes home about $74,868 a year, or $6,239 a month and $2,880 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
Is Fairbanks a good place for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fairbanks area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $93,870 buys what about $90,952 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fairbanks ($61,810). A typical home costs $312,179, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other Alaska cities
Fairbanks ranks 1st of 2 Alaska metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fairbanks$93,870
- Anchorage$80,210
All Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in Alaska
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 Fairbanks: questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make an hour in Fairbanks?
$45.13 an hour on average, and $48.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in Fairbanks?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators take-home pay in Fairbanks?
About $74,868 a year ($6,239 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,870. Alaska has no state income tax; Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more in Fairbanks than elsewhere?
The average here is 50% 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 Fairbanks-College, AK (21820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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. Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.25, this job is 1.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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