Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops) Salary
This is the Data Center Headhunters salary guide.
BLS does not measure Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops) as its own occupation, so this page uses Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (SOC 51-8031, closest proxy). The median annual wage in the United States was $60,020 (BLS, May 2025), and the middle half earned $48,040 to $74,780.
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Closest proxy
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
National pay range
| Point | Annual wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,110 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $48,040 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $60,020 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $74,780 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $91,060 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $62,540 | Average wage. |
| Point | Hourly wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.8 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $23.1 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $28.86 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $35.95 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $43.78 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $30.07 | Average wage. |
What BLS wages cover: OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. These are straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Discuss per diem, travel and relocation separately. BLS pay-term definitions.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-8031 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, United States. Download national data (ZIP).
Pay relative to all occupations
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| This occupation, median | $60,020 |
| All occupations (SOC 00-0000), median | $50,980 |
| Relative wage | 1.18 times |
A ratio of 1.00 means the same median as all workers in the area. It is arithmetic on two BLS medians, not a BLS statistic.
Pay in industries that hire this occupation
| Industry (BLS name) | NAICS | Employment | Share of occupation | Median | P25 to P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | 1,100 | 0.9% | $59,480 | $53,000 to $102,070 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | 880 | 0.7% | $58,810 | $51,490 to $71,630 |
| Engineering Services | 541330 | 770 | 0.6% | $58,610 | $52,740 to $70,990 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | 520 | 0.4% | $60,200 | $50,960 to $72,890 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 238220 | 420 | 0.3% | $61,460 | $61,460 to $73,330 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | 420 | 0.3% | $61,460 | $61,460 to $73,330 |
| Facilities Support Services | 561200 | 300 | 0.2% | $57,130 | $49,040 to $64,040 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | 541380 | 100 | 0.1% | $64,090 | $47,430 to $71,630 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | 50 | 0.0% | $77,670 | $55,880 to $79,020 |
These national industry rows cover privately owned establishments. Industry names are exact BLS NAICS titles. Industries overlap, so shares do not sum to 100%. An industry row does not mean the employer runs data centers.
Pay in target metros
| Metro area | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $73,600 | $59,620 to $84,570 | 1,630 | 0.63 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,780 | $47,320 to $61,540 | 1,910 | 0.57 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,660 | $53,000 to $74,050 | 2,570 | 1.31 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $52,160 | $46,930 to $63,220 | 1,460 | 0.61 |
| Columbus, OH | $63,700 | $55,010 to $70,510 | 730 | 0.8 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $79,290 | $62,120 to $96,250 | 1,770 | 0.47 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,190 | $83,260 to $128,990 | 460 | 0.49 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $83,860 | $64,860 to $87,880 | 450 | 0.45 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Highest and lowest paying metros
Ranked by published median annual wage among 367 metro areas with an exact median.
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,160 | 1,040 | 0.53 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,190 | 460 | 0.49 |
| 3 | Vallejo, CA | $106,150 | 200 | 1.67 |
| 4 | Napa, CA | $101,540 | 100 | 1.61 |
| 5 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $99,840 | 40 | 1.25 |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $99,010 | 830 | 0.48 |
| 7 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $94,060 | 80 | 1.01 |
| 8 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $88,270 | 70 | 0.66 |
| 9 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $87,840 | 40 | 0.87 |
| 10 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $87,310 | 90 | 1.97 |
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 358 | Lawton, OK | $40,190 | 60 | 1.6 |
| 359 | Bloomington, IN | $40,010 | 80 | 1.32 |
| 360 | Jonesboro, AR | $39,570 | 80 | 1.59 |
| 361 | Rome, GA | $39,370 | 50 | 1.26 |
| 362 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $39,260 | 40 | 0.86 |
| 363 | Valdosta, GA | $37,960 | 30 | 0.68 |
| 364 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $37,800 | 330 | 1.33 |
| 365 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $37,120 | 220 | 1.64 |
| 366 | Hot Springs, AR | $35,520 | 60 | 1.89 |
| 367 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $29,220 | 970 | 1.71 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Where pay is highest relative to local wages
This compares the occupation's median with the all-occupations median in the same metro and on the same annual basis. It does not adjust for living costs. Only exact published medians are ranked. A top-coded lower bound cannot establish an exact rank.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Ratio | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $101,540 | $55,210 | 1.84 times | 100 | 1.61 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $72,010 | $39,740 | 1.81 times | 70 | 1.41 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,150 | $58,620 | 1.81 times | 200 | 1.67 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $84,450 | $46,670 | 1.81 times | 300 | 0.32 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $87,840 | $49,290 | 1.78 times | 40 | 0.87 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $94,060 | $54,730 | 1.72 times | 80 | 1.01 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $82,780 | $48,400 | 1.71 times | 1,580 | 1.11 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,580 | $45,130 | 1.70 times | 190 | 1.34 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $68,120 | $40,230 | 1.69 times | 70 | 1.57 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,160 | $74,260 | 1.69 times | 1,040 | 0.53 |
| Chico, CA | $80,360 | $48,050 | 1.67 times | 100 | 1.62 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $81,600 | $48,990 | 1.67 times | 280 | 1.17 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,960 | $51,690 | 1.66 times | 250 | 1.5 |
| Vineland, NJ | $80,040 | $48,190 | 1.66 times | 60 | 1.1 |
| El Centro, CA | $74,790 | $45,140 | 1.66 times | 100 | 1.91 |
| Rockford, IL | $77,830 | $47,120 | 1.65 times | 90 | 0.82 |
| Salinas, CA | $77,920 | $47,380 | 1.64 times | 190 | 1.22 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $83,190 | $50,770 | 1.64 times | 200 | 1.96 |
| Merced, CA | $76,790 | $47,220 | 1.63 times | 110 | 1.63 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $99,840 | $61,810 | 1.62 times | 40 | 1.25 |
| Reno, NV | $79,770 | $49,660 | 1.61 times | 160 | 0.7 |
| Redding, CA | $77,550 | $48,920 | 1.59 times | 90 | 1.57 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $77,150 | $48,830 | 1.58 times | 460 | 0.72 |
| Yakima, WA | $75,290 | $47,810 | 1.57 times | 90 | 1.13 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,520 | $49,970 | 1.57 times | 100 | 2.35 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Source: BLS OEWS BLS, May 2025, SOC 51-8031 and SOC 00-0000, matching metro areas. The ratio is our arithmetic on those published medians, not a BLS statistic.
Change since the prior BLS release
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $58,260 |
| May 2025 | $60,020 |
| Difference | +$1,760 (+3.0%) |
Two published BLS values, shown as released. Not annualized, not adjusted for inflation, and BLS metro boundaries and survey panels can differ between releases.
What is inside the BLS pay figure
For an operations offer, separate standby availability payments from wages for hours actually worked. BLS excludes on-call waiting pay and shift differentials. Ordinary straight-time wages for work performed are not excluded by the on-call rule.
| Component | In the BLS figure? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate and guaranteed pay | Included | BLS counts the "base rate" and "guaranteed pay". |
| Production and incentive pay | Included | BLS counts "incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses". |
| On-call waiting or availability pay matters here | Left out | BLS excludes payment for time spent awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. BLS on-call pay definition. |
| Overtime pay | Left out | BLS excludes "overtime pay". Straight-time pay only. |
| Shift differentials matters here | Left out | BLS excludes "shift differentials", so night and weekend premiums are not in the figure. |
| Project-completion and discretionary bonuses | Depends on the terms | Guaranteed pay and production incentives are included. Discretionary nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Check how the payment is defined. |
| Per diem, travel and relocation | Left out | BLS does not name these as wages. They are expense reimbursements and are not in the figure. |
| Benefits and employer costs | Left out | BLS excludes "employer costs for supplementary benefits". |
Questions
What is the median pay for Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops)?
The BLS median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators nationally is $60,020 (BLS, May 2025).
What range do most Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops) earn?
Per BLS, the middle half earned $48,040 to $74,780, and 10% earned less than $39,110.
Is this the exact job title?
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
How many people are employed in this occupation?
BLS estimates 128,490 jobs nationally in Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators across all industries.
What do BLS wages leave out?
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. Discuss per diem, travel and relocation separately.
Hiring Market Brief
A one-page brief for Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops): BLS pay, mapping and caveats.
Hiring Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops)?
Pay is one input. Scope, license and travel decide whether the person says yes.
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- Methodology
What the published rows say about Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops) pay in the United States
Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops) maps to Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, SOC 51-8031. For the United States, the May 2025 OEWS annual median is $60,020; the middle half runs from $48,040 to $74,780. This is a proxy, not a separate wage estimate for this exact job. BLS does not separate seniority titles that share this row. Set out the shift, switching authority and on-call duties before comparing offers. A site-based position and a traveling service job can share a wage row without offering the same working conditions.
The middle-half spread is $26,740: $11,980 from the 25th percentile to the median and $14,760 from the median to the 75th. The upper interval is wider. Use these points to compare an offer, not to price a junior or senior hire. Percentiles are not experience bands, and this distribution alone does not explain why individual workers earn different amounts.
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports a annual median of $83,320 for this occupation in May 2025. This metro is selected by published occupation employment, not geographic proximity to a national point. That is $23,300 above the United States's median.
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ reports a annual median of $63,660 for this occupation in May 2025. This metro is selected by published occupation employment, not geographic proximity to a national point. That is $3,640 above the United States's median.
The highest exact national industry medians in the loaded SOC 51-8031 rows are Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $108,700 and Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $108,700. These are May 2025 national occupation estimates, not local data center pay. The loaded data has no local industry-by-occupation breakdown, so it cannot rank industries within the United States.
The matched median moved from $58,260 in May 2024 to $60,020 in May 2025: $1,760 higher. Both rows use SOC 51-8031, area 99 and the same annual basis. This is not adjusted for inflation or annualized, and it does not attribute the change to a particular employer.
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. This is neither pure base salary nor total compensation. Agree travel, per diem and relocation terms separately. No verified Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops)-specific allowance is in this occupation row, so none is added to the figures.
Questions about Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops) pay in the United States
Which BLS row supports Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops) pay in the United States?
Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops) maps to SOC 51-8031, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators. The May 2025 annual median for the United States is $60,020. The proxy mapping is not a separate survey of this niche title.
Does the figure cover the whole offer for Water Treatment Technician (cooling towers, closed loops)?
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. Travel and relocation terms still need their own discussion; this row supplies no separate allowance.
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- methodology
Nearest-area selection uses Census Gazetteer internal points, not road distance. Source: 2025 Census Gazetteer.