Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 1 pay range
State of Washington · class code 602T
- Class code
- 602T
- Salary range
- 48E
- Pay unit
- Year
- Alternate ranges
- 2
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 1 is $58,392 to $72,900 per year, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 602T.
- The plan defines 2 alternate ranges for this class, so the rate depends on which bargaining unit covers the position.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 48E in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 9 steps, and this class starts at step E rather than at the bottom of the range; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $58,392 | $59,760 | $61,332 | $62,880 | $64,512 | $66,072 | $67,704 | $69,348 | $71,136 |
| Monthly | $4,866 | $4,980 | $5,111 | $5,240 | $5,376 | $5,506 | $5,642 | $5,779 | $5,928 |
| Hourly | $27.97 | $28.62 | $29.37 | $30.11 | $30.90 | $31.64 | $32.43 | $33.21 | $34.07 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Alternate ranges
| Bargaining unit | Minimum | Maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| As listed | $58,392 | $71,136 | per year |
| Teamsters | $59,760 | $72,900 | per year |
The listing prints a separate range for classes covered by a bargaining agreement. Which one applies depends on the employee's unit.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). 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.
What the state says the job is
As a certified Group 1 wastewater treatment plant operator, operates and maintains a Class 1 wastewater treatment plant at an institution or serves as a backup for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 2.
Examples of the work
Operates, adjusts and regulates chemical feed machines, chlorinators, sludge digestion pumps, and flow meters; breaks up sludge in gas chambers; Makes prescribed tests such as tests for hydrogen-ion concentrates, oxygen demand and settlable solids; Cleans bar screens and filter beds; cleans grit from grit chamber; washes down tanks and chambers; Records gauge and meter readings; keeps operational records; Lubricates and maintains motors, pumps and heat exchangers; Maintains buildings and adjacent grounds; Supervises and instructs helpers, patients or residents; Performs other work as required.
Minimum qualifications
Certification by Department of Ecology as a Group 1 wastewater treatment plant operator. Note: Classification of the wastewater treatment plant will be determined by the Department of Ecology.
Special requirements
Incumbents in some positions in this class will be required to obtain and maintain a Water Distribution Manager 2 Certificate of Competency issued by the Department of Health. This Certificate of Competency is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.
Nearby classes in Washington
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 1 in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $40,391 | $49,743 | $40,391 to $49,743 |
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.