Water Treatment Plant Operator pay range
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · class code 97300
- Class code
- 97300
- Pay scale group
- ST 04
- Pay unit
- Year
- Bargaining unit
- J1
- State
- Pennsylvania
- The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania published pay range for Water Treatment Plant Operator is $41,506 to $61,927 per year.
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration keys this classification as class code 97300.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Class specification
The Commonwealth job specification for this class is published by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration. 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 03/13/1995.
What the state says the job is
This is skilled work in the operation and maintenance of a water treatment plant. Employees in this class operate and maintain motors, pumps, water softeners, chemical feeders, chlorinators, filters, flow recorders, controllers and related equipment used in water treatment plants. Work includes conducting proceduralized chemical testing of plantinfluent or effluent to insure portability, pH level, purity, clarity, biochemical oxygen demand level, and the safety of the plant's effluent for either human consumption or environmental protection. Work may include lead work and training responsibilities for laborers and semi-skilled laborers temporarily assigned to the water treatment plant.
Examples of the work
Operates and maintains a water treatment facility. Collects water samples and performs chemical tests to determine purity, clarity, biochemical oxygen demand, and ph level; determines potability of water supply. Reads meters and records findings on daily log; and maintains charts of water pressure and flow. Maintains records on maintenance performed on equipment and prepares reports on plant operations as necessary. Operates chlorinators, ammoniators, chemical feed apparatus, alum machines, motors, pumps, valves, filters, recording meters and related water treatment equipment.
Special requirements
Possession of a valid certificate issued by the State Board for the Certification of Sewage Treatment Plant and Waterworks Operators for the class and type of water treatment plant operated. Certain positions may also be required to obtain certification as a sewage treatment plant operator.
Quoted from the Commonwealth job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration publishes this figure in Classification and Pay Plan (online, current annual salary ranges). Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The Commonwealth also links this class code to its own job title and specification. That page is the official description of the classification; this page publishes its pay range.
The listed pay scale is available in the Commonwealth's current ST schedule.
Nearby classes in Pennsylvania
Water Treatment Plant Operator in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $58,297 | $67,296 | $58,297 to $67,296 |
Each state publishes its own range for a classification with this exact title. Duties, grade structures and bargaining units differ between states, so read each class page before comparing.