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The differences between plant operators and water plant 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 water plant operator. Additionally, a water plant operator has an average salary of $45,853, 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 water plant operator are water treatment plant, plant equipment, and water samples.
| Plant Operator | Water Plant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $45,853 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $22.04 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 39,348 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| 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.
Water Plant Operators are responsible for managing and monitoring the processes of a water treatment plant. Their duties include operating treatment plants and apparatus, cleaning screens and filters, adding chemicals, monitoring gas and water levels, taking reading as well as inspecting wastewater and water samples. They are responsible for interpreting sample analysis results, resolving technical faults from gathered data as well as organizing general maintenance and repair work. Water Plant Operators also assess chemical stock levels, hazardous conditions, and risks during their day to day work.
Plant operators and water plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Water Plant Operator | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $45,853 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $32,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Stockton, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Washington |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | Santa Clara Valley Water District |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and a water plant operator in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Water Plant Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and water plant operators' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Water Plant Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |