The median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $77,190 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $77,970.
Pay spans roughly $49,820 at the 10th percentile to $107,880 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $37.11 per hour. An estimated 1,970 people work as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $77,190 |
| Mean (annual) | $77,970 |
| Median (hourly) | $37.11 |
| 10th percentile | $49,820 |
| 90th percentile | $107,880 |
| Employment | 1,970 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.