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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

General Information

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.

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Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. State and local government62.14%
  2. Private, for profit31.58%
  3. Private, not for profit3.47%
  4. Self-employed1.53%
  5. Federal government1.28%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Job Outlook

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
-6%
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Job Outlook

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Employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is projected to decline 6 percent from 2022 to 2032. Despite declining employment, about 10,500 openings for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$51,600

Median Military Salary Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

$56,609

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State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$22,830
$78,660
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 41%
  • Post-secondary certificate 24%
  • Some college 20%
  • Associate's degree 12%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership

Knowledge

  • Chemistry
  • Mechanical
  • Education and Training
  • Mathematics
  • Biology

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.