Water and Sewage Plant Operator III pay range
Commonwealth of Kentucky · class code 20000438
- Class code
- 20000438
- Pay grade
- 13
- Pay unit
- Month
- Alternate ranges
- 3
- State
- Kentucky
- The Commonwealth of Kentucky published pay range for Water and Sewage Plant Operator III is $3,339 to $5,343 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 $40,071 to $64,114 a year at full time.
- Kentucky Personnel Cabinet keys this classification as class code 20000438.
- 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 | $3,339 | $5,009 | per month |
| Range 40-hour week | $3,562 | $5,343 | per month |
| Range Hourly | $20.55 | $30.82 | 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 more than 2 million gallons capacity of flow per day and less than 7 million gallons capacity of flow per day; and/or reviews work of other operators for compliance with state and federal regulation. Provides intermittent water and/or sewage plant operation consultation to facilities; and performs other duties as required.
Examples of the work
Operates and maintains a water or sewage treatment plant with more than 2 million gallons capacity of flow per day and less than 7 million gallons capacity of flow per day. Inspects treatment plants within a designated region, as assigned; prepares and maintains inspection reports. Oversees the work of operators in proper operation and maintenance of water treatment plants and/or wastewater treatment plants. Operates a water treatment plant and/or a wastewater treatment plant at a large state facility or water/sewage plant. Operates all pumps and provides necessary maintenance of pumps. Cleans all filters. Cleans settling basin. Cleans and maintains all other operating equipment.
Minimum qualifications
EDUCATION: High school graduate. EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: Must have three years of experience in the operation of a water and/or sewage plant including one year in the operation of a water and/or sewage plant with at least a 50,000 gallons capacity of flow per day. Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: NONE
Special requirements
Must have a valid Class III (or higher) water treatment operator's license and/or a Class III (or higher) wastewater operator's License as issued by the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet.
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.