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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $60,020 Median per year · $28.86/hr Most earn $39,110–$91,060

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
  • Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
  • Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
  • Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.

Job outlook

United States
6% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 10,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals74.3%
  • Water, sewage and other systems12.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

You can often start this job with a high school diploma. Most people spend about 6 months to 1 year learning on the job as a trainee before they work as a full operator.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong math and science, since you will read gauges, follow calculations, and learn how treatment processes work.

  2. Water Treatment Plant Operator Trainee

    6 months to 1 year

    Work under experienced operators while you learn pumps, filters, chemical dosing, and control boards. Many places also expect you to earn a state operator certification during this time, so check your state's requirements.

  3. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator

    Ongoing

    Run and monitor the full treatment process from a control board, check water quality tests, and respond to alarms to keep the system safe and running.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator

    3-5 years of experience first

    You handle more complex systems, train newer operators, and often take a larger role in troubleshooting and reporting.

  2. Chief Operator

    5-10 years of experience first

    You lead the whole plant or system, manage staff and budgets, plan upgrades, and deal with regulators. Higher-level certifications and strong leadership experience are usually needed.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take chemistry, biology, and mathThese classes explain how water is cleaned and give you the math skills you will use to check chemical doses and flow rates.
  • Join a science or environmental clubClubs like these show your interest in water and the environment and give you teamwork experience.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job at a utility or related siteEven a general helper role lets you see how a plant runs and shows employers that you are reliable.
  • Volunteer for a local river or water cleanupHands-on cleanup work builds awareness of water quality issues and looks good on applications.
  • Practice reading charts and gaugesOperators watch many readings, so getting used to data tables and graphs in class will help you on the job.

In college

  • Take chemistry, biology, and environmental science coursesThese courses build the science background behind water treatment and help with certification exams.
  • Consider an associate degree or certificate in water or environmental technology, if your school offers oneA formal program can give you a head start on the knowledge that operator exams test.
  • Get a campus or part-time job involving equipment or lab workLab assistant or facilities jobs teach you to follow procedures, record readings, and work safely around machines.
  • Apply for internships at water utilities or environmental consulting firmsInternships give you real plant experience and connections that can lead to a trainee job.
  • Join an environmental or engineering student groupThese groups build leadership and teamwork skills and help you learn about industry events and job openings.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your local water or wastewater utility whether they offer tours, job shadowing, or summer jobs. Seeing a plant up close shows you whether the work fits you.
  • Check your state's operator certification rules early, because the requirements and levels vary by place and affect how fast you can advance.
  • Build comfort with math, chemistry, and computers, since operators use all three daily and certifications often include exams on them.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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