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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: Career Overview
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
What Do Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Take On?
The core tasks performed by water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators cover:
- 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.
- 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.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Basin Tender
- Biosolids Management Technician (Biosolids Management Tech)
- Clarifying Plant Operator
- Disposal Operator
- Disposal Plant Operator
- Drinking Water Technician (Drinking Water Tech)
- Filter Tender
- Filterer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 614,799 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -4.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,896 |
| Hourly median | $23.51 |
| 10th percentile | $30,079 |
| 25th percentile | $39,488 |
| 75th percentile | $58,305 |
| 90th percentile | $67,713 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $82,100 |
| Nevada | $79,140 |
| Washington | $78,810 |
| Alaska | $76,910 |
| New Jersey | $75,200 |
| Connecticut | $74,450 |
| Minnesota | $70,470 |
| Colorado | $68,220 |
| New Hampshire | $66,240 |
| Hawaii | $65,800 |
| Massachusetts | $65,620 |
| Oregon | $64,500 |
| Illinois | $63,790 |
| New York | $63,140 |
| Wisconsin | $62,360 |
| Vermont | $61,530 |
| Arizona | $61,480 |
| Maine | $60,960 |
| Wyoming | $60,580 |
| Delaware | $59,960 |
| Montana | $59,960 |
| Iowa | $59,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,170 |
| Utah | $59,120 |
| Virginia | $58,920 |
| Maryland | $58,740 |
| Ohio | $58,720 |
| Florida | $58,630 |
| Michigan | $58,470 |
| North Dakota | $58,250 |
| Nebraska | $57,640 |
| Rhode Island | $57,060 |
| Indiana | $55,170 |
| South Dakota | $54,090 |
| Idaho | $53,250 |
| Missouri | $52,990 |
| Tennessee | $50,760 |
| North Carolina | $49,710 |
| South Carolina | $49,480 |
| Georgia | $49,370 |
| Alabama | $48,730 |
| Texas | $48,110 |
| Kansas | $47,950 |
| Kentucky | $47,700 |
| New Mexico | $46,680 |
| Mississippi | $44,970 |
| West Virginia | $43,960 |
| Guam | $43,600 |
| Oklahoma | $41,380 |
| Louisiana | $38,690 |
| Arkansas | $38,310 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,700 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $79,491 | 12.3% | 0.82 |
| New England | $65,556 | 4.3% | 1.02 |
| Middle Atlantic | $62,863 | 11.3% | 0.80 |
| Rocky Mountains | $61,673 | 5.2% | 1.46 |
| Great Lakes | $59,569 | 13.8% | 1.02 |
| Plains States | $57,721 | 9.0% | 1.46 |
| Southeast | $50,502 | 28.4% | 1.28 |
| Southwest | $49,431 | 14.8% | 1.40 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $123,390 | 1,160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $106,440 | 400 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $101,670 | 190 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $99,450 | 90 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $91,010 | 40 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $90,610 | 140 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $88,440 | 730 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $85,790 | 90 |
Top Industries Employing Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
The largest employers of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 16,180 | $57,820 |
| Manufacturing | 5,180 | $56,900 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3,740 | $55,320 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,560 | $52,820 |
| Construction | 1,310 | $61,580 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 670 | $72,580 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 550 | $58,050 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 500 | $55,200 |
Below are examples of industries where water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
Education and Training
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (Supplemental)
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (Supplemental)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (Supplemental)
- Geothermal Technicians (Supplemental)
- Power Plant Operators (Primary-Short)
- Biomass Plant Technicians (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators often complete programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-8031.00 (Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators).
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