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The differences between plant operators and water 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 water treatment operator. Additionally, a water treatment operator has an average salary of $48,112, 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 treatment operator are water treatment plant, SCADA, and water samples.
| Plant Operator | Water Treatment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $48,112 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $23.13 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 32,838 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| 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 water treatment operator oversees the daily operations at water treatment plants, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Among their responsibilities include operating machines and equipment, collecting and testing water samples, maintaining records of meter and gauge readings, and adding chemicals according to protocols. They must also keep the cleanliness of facilities, monitor the meters and gauges, and perform equipment adjustments when necessary. Moreover, a water treatment operator must adhere to safety policies and government regulations and conduct inspections to ensure compliance in other areas.
Plant operators and water treatment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Water Treatment Operator | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $48,112 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $35,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Washington |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and a water treatment operator in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Water Treatment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Duke University |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and water treatment operators' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Water 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, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |