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The differences between plant operators and wastewater treatment operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a plant operator and a wastewater treatment operator. Additionally, a wastewater treatment operator has an average salary of $45,618, which is higher than the $42,697 average annual salary of a plant operator.
The top three skills for a plant operator include plant equipment, plant operations and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a wastewater treatment operator are plant equipment, process control, and blowers.
| Plant Operator | Wastewater Treatment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $45,618 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $21.93 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 32,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A plant operator's primary role is to supervise and oversee operations in an industrial setting. They are responsible for controlling machinery and equipment, coordinating with fellow officers, monitoring the quality of progress among a particular unit or department, and maintaining daily operations records. A plant operator may also respond to inquiries and issues, perform basic troubleshooting, and provide corrective measures. Furthermore, a plant operator must conduct regular inspection and maintenance to ensure a safe work environment for everyone, all while implementing the plant's safety policies and regulations.
A wastewater treatment operator is responsible for overseeing the daily operations in water treatment plans, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their duties include coordinating with different staff, operating controls and systems, gathering water samples, maintaining the cleanliness of all areas and equipment, and monitoring the progress of all operations. They must also keep accurate records of data, reporting progress to managers or supervisors. Furthermore, as a wastewater treatment operator, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Plant operators and wastewater treatment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Wastewater Treatment Operator | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $45,618 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $32,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Mercer Island, WA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Idaho |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and a wastewater treatment operator in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Wastewater Treatment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Duke University |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and wastewater treatment operators' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Wastewater Treatment Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |