Water Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee

Get the information you need to know about working as a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator.

While jobs for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee are decreasing, those who do work in these jobs get paid higher than average.

• Employment for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee is expected to decrease.

• Water Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

What Major Will Prepare You For a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator Career?

• Engineering Technologies
• Environmental Control Technology
• Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology

How Many Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Work in Tennessee?

There were approximately 2,950 workers employed as Water Treatment Plant and System Operators in this state in 2018.

There were 2,800 Water Treatment Plant and System Operators employed in this state in 2017.

That’s growth of 150 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 1,960 Water Treatment Plant and System Operators working in it, which means Tennessee has more Water Treatment Plant and System Operators than average.

Job Projections for Tennessee

Jobs for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators in this state are declining at a rate of 4.5% which is a faster decline than the nationwide estimated projection of -3.2%.

Tennessee Annual Job Openings

The BLS estimates 220 annual job openings, and a total of 2,740 jobs for Tennessee Water Treatment Plant and System Operators in 2026.

Nationwide, the prediction is 9,200 annual jobs and 115,400 total jobs in 2026.

What do Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Make in Tennessee?

In 2018 wages for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators ranged from $27,640 to $59,080 with $41,110 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $13.29 to $28.41. The median hourly rate was $19.77.

Workers in this field were paid a median of $18.93 an hour in 2017.

The hourly rate grew by $0.84.

The median salary in Tennessee is higher than the nationwide median salary.

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Top Tennessee Metros for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Water Treatment Plant and System Operators.

Metro	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN	750	$43,930
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	490	$42,020
Knoxville, TN	350	$44,950
Chattanooga, TN-GA	190	$37,950
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA	140	$41,820
Clarksville, TN-KY	110	$37,300
Johnson City, TN	80	$36,480
Cleveland, TN	70	$38,240
Morristown, TN	60	$39,680
Jackson, TN	40	$46,420

Top States for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Employment

The table below shows the states where most Water Treatment Plant and System Operators work.

State	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Texas	12,100	$37,320
California	11,980	$70,550
Florida	6,340	$46,840
Pennsylvania	5,340	$49,220
New York	4,720	$56,260
Ohio	4,610	$49,220
Illinois	4,220	$56,630
Georgia	3,780	$37,450
South Carolina	3,690	$42,150
North Carolina	3,350	$41,820
Indiana	3,180	$41,990
Michigan	3,180	$47,280
Minnesota	3,160	$55,400
Virginia	3,070	$44,390
Tennessee	2,950	$41,110
Washington	2,850	$61,910
Kentucky	2,780	$37,000
Arkansas	2,600	$32,910
Missouri	2,570	$41,840
New Jersey	2,500	$59,900

Below are the states where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators get paid the most:

State	Annual Median Salary
California	$70,550
Connecticut	$66,800
Nevada	$62,640
Washington	$61,910
Alaska	$61,790
New Jersey	$59,900
Massachusetts	$56,650
Illinois	$56,630
New York	$56,260
Oregon	$56,180

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies.