All About Water Treatment Plant and System Operators
Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Example 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.
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
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Skills Needed to be a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
Below is a list of the skills most Water Treatment Plant and System Operators say are important on the job.
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.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Wastewater Operator (WW Operator)
- Water Technician
- Liquid Waste Treatment Plant Operator
- Relief Operator
- Clarifying Plant Operator
Job Outlook for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators
There were about 119,200 jobs for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator. There will be an estimated 9,200 positions for Water Treatment Plant & System Operator per year.

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.
Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Average Salary
The salary for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators ranges between about $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 |
What Tools do Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Use?
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
- Material safety data sheet MSDS software
- Data logging software
- Compliance software
How do I Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?
Individuals working as a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?

Where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator may also be interested in:
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- Mechanical Door Repairers
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Career changers with experience as a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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