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The differences between plant operators and water technicians 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 technician. Additionally, a plant operator has an average salary of $42,697, which is higher than the $38,723 average annual salary of a water technician.
The top three skills for a plant operator include plant equipment, plant operations and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a water technician are customer service, work ethic, and hand tools.
| Plant Operator | Water Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $38,723 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $18.62 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 34,702 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| 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.
Typically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency. They must also keep records of all operations, producing progress reports as needed. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with co-workers for a smooth workflow.
Plant operators and water technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Water Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $38,723 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Redmond, WA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Idaho |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | Vishay |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and a water technician in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Water Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Duke University |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and water technicians' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Water Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |