Water and Sewage Plant Operator I pay range
Commonwealth of Kentucky · class code 20000436
- Class code
- 20000436
- Pay grade
- 11
- Pay unit
- Month
- Alternate ranges
- 3
- State
- Kentucky
- The Commonwealth of Kentucky published pay range for Water and Sewage Plant Operator I is $2,760 to $4,416 per month, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Kentucky publishes an entry rate and a midpoint for each pay grade, not a maximum, so the upper figure on this page is the grade midpoint.
- That works out to about $33,119 to $52,990 a year at full time.
- Kentucky Personnel Cabinet keys this classification as class code 20000436.
- The plan defines 3 alternate ranges for this class, so the rate depends on which criteria an employee meets.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Alternate ranges
| Range | Entry | Midpoint | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range 37.5-hour week | $2,760 | $4,140 | per month |
| Range 40-hour week | $2,944 | $4,416 | per month |
| Range Hourly | $16.98 | $25.48 | per hour |
Which alternate range applies is set by the plan's own criteria (experience, certification or assignment). The criteria text lives in the source document.
Class specification
The Personnel Cabinet class specification for this class is published by Kentucky Personnel Cabinet. The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications. It was last revised 09/16/2023.
What the state says the job is
Performs duties in the operation of a state facility water and/or sewage treatment plant with less than 50,000 gallons capacity of flow per day. OR assists a Water and Sewage Plant Operator II or III in the operation of a water and/or sewage treatment plant; and performs other duties as required.
Examples of the work
Operates a water treatment plant and/or a wastewater treatment plant with less than 50,000 gallons capacity of flow per day. . Operates all pumps and provides necessary maintenance of pumps. Cleans all filters. Cleans settling basin. Cleans and maintains all other operating equipment. Collects water and/or wastewater samples and performs tests using chemicals. Adds prescribed amounts of chemicals and gases to water and/or effluent. Inspects gauges and records information. Performs other general maintenance on related equipment and work areas. Maintains required records and reports and submits reports as requested.
Minimum qualifications
EDUCATION: High school graduate. EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: Must have one year in the operation of a water and/or sewage plant. Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: NONE
Special requirements
Must have a valid Class I (or higher) water treatment operator's license and/or a Class I (or higher) wastewater operator's license as issued by the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/ titles/401/005/010/.
Quoted from the Personnel Cabinet class specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Kentucky Personnel Cabinet publishes this figure in Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule, effective September 16, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
Job titles and their pay grades come from the Job Specification Search, joined to the salary schedule.