Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 3 pay range
State of Washington · class code 602V
- Class code
- 602V
- Salary range
- 57E
- Pay unit
- Year
- Alternate ranges
- 2
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 3 is $72,900 to $88,788 per year, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 602V.
- 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 57E 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 | $72,900 | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 | $82,440 | $84,528 | $86,688 | $88,788 |
| Monthly | $6,075 | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 | $6,870 | $7,044 | $7,224 | $7,399 |
| Hourly | $34.91 | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 | $39.48 | $40.48 | $41.52 | $42.52 |
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 | $72,900 | $88,788 | per year |
| Teamsters | $72,900 | $88,788 | 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 3 wastewater treatment plant operator, operates and maintains a Class 3 wastewater treatment plant at an institution.
Examples of the work
Plans, schedules, and supervises, and performs the operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment plant and potable water system; supervises unskilled and skilled workers and residents; Instructs operating personnel in proper operating and maintenance methods and procedures; Inspects plant and advises management regarding maintenance, operational and safety problems and recommends corrective action; Directs and/or performs and records physical and analytical tests as required by regulatory agencies and applicable permits; Maintain laboratory accreditation; Attends meetings; Coordinates with contractors, engineers, vendors, maintenance personnel, and other agencies to ensure the uninte ...
Minimum qualifications
Certification by Department of Ecology as a Group 3 wastewater treatment plant operator. Note: Classification of the wastewater treatment plant will be determined by the Department of Ecology. Note: 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.
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 3 in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $50,425 | $61,548 | $50,425 to $61,548 |
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.