Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Also called: Plant Operator · Process Operator (Process Op) · Relief Operator · Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator) · Wastewater Operator (WW Operator) · Wastewater Technician (Wastewater Tech)
Median pay (national)
$58,260
$37,870–$86,160 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
126,750
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-6.5%
~10,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $86,160 versus $37,870 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $58,260 leaves roughly 48% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -6.5% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 10,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $82,100, +41% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $25,700 — a 219% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data logging software
- Database software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Human machine interface HMI software
- Material safety data sheet MSDS software
- Operational Data Store ODS software
- Records management software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Timekeeping software
- Wastewater expert control systems
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service