The median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $66,660 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $66,420.
Pay spans roughly $50,680 at the 10th percentile to $84,990 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $32.05 per hour. An estimated 290 people work as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
| Median (annual) | $66,660 |
| Mean (annual) | $66,420 |
| Median (hourly) | $32.05 |
| 10th percentile | $50,680 |
| 90th percentile | $84,990 |
| Employment | 290 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.