What You Need to Know About Water Treatment Plant and System Operator
Job Description: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
List of Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Job Duties
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
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Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Required Skills
When polled, Water Treatment Plant and System Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Water Treatment Plant and System Operator
- Basin Tender
- On-Site Wastewater Systems Technician
- Water Technician
- Wastewater Plant Operator
- Water Pump Operator
Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 119,200 jobs for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator. The BLS estimates 9,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Water Treatment Plant & System Operator are Colorado, Washington, and Georgia. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maine, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
Water Treatment Plant and System Operators make between $28,300 and $76,200 a year.

Water Treatment Plant and System Operators who work in California, Connecticut, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
How much do Water Treatment Plant and System Operators make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $43,890 |
Alaska | $63,160 |
Arizona | $46,780 |
Arkansas | $35,380 |
California | $72,650 |
Colorado | $55,890 |
Connecticut | $66,560 |
Delaware | $45,960 |
Florida | $48,710 |
Georgia | $39,280 |
Hawaii | $53,530 |
Idaho | $44,970 |
Illinois | $57,310 |
Indiana | $42,750 |
Iowa | $45,060 |
Kansas | $40,210 |
Kentucky | $38,540 |
Louisiana | $36,910 |
Maine | $46,140 |
Maryland | $48,080 |
Massachusetts | $57,320 |
Michigan | $47,540 |
Minnesota | $53,930 |
Mississippi | $36,760 |
Missouri | $43,400 |
Montana | $43,270 |
Nebraska | $45,180 |
Nevada | $63,110 |
New Hampshire | $50,960 |
New Jersey | $59,590 |
New Mexico | $42,370 |
New York | $59,190 |
North Carolina | $42,730 |
North Dakota | $38,950 |
Ohio | $49,060 |
Oklahoma | $35,130 |
Oregon | $55,780 |
Pennsylvania | $49,810 |
Rhode Island | $51,390 |
South Carolina | $45,240 |
South Dakota | $42,580 |
Tennessee | $41,910 |
Texas | $39,360 |
Utah | $46,480 |
Vermont | $47,930 |
Virginia | $46,310 |
Washington | $63,520 |
West Virginia | $36,480 |
Wisconsin | $51,540 |
Wyoming | $52,710 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Water Treatment Plant and System Operators
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Water Treatment Plant and System Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Word processing software
- Database software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Timekeeping software
- Human machine interface HMI software
- Records management software
- Data logging software
- Material safety data sheet MSDS software
- Compliance software
How do I Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?
Education needed to be a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Are Employed

Water Treatment Plant and System Operators work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- Mechanical Door Repairers
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Those who work as a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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