Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
SOC code 51-8031 · O*NET-SOC 51-8031.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$60,020
a year
Hourly
$28.86
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$62,540
$30.07 per hour
Middle 50%
$48,040 – $74,780
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$39,110 – $91,060
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
128,490
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $39,110
- $18.80/hr
- 25th percentile
- $48,040
- $23.10/hr
- Median percentile
- $60,020
- $28.86/hr
- 75th percentile
- $74,780
- $35.95/hr
- 90th percentile
- $91,060
- $43.78/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-7%
Declining
132,400
jobs in 2024
123,800
projected for 2034
About 8,600 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 50% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)50%
- Post-Secondary Certificate38%
- Some College Courses8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4%
Common questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn?
The national median is $60,020 a year. The full range runs from $39,110 at the 10th percentile to $91,060 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 7% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.6/5
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security4.2/5
- Mechanical3.6/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Chemistry3.4/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
- Education and Training3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Quality Control Analysis.