Power system operator vs water plant operator

The differences between power system 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 power system operator and a water plant operator. Additionally, a power system operator has an average salary of $70,058, which is higher than the $45,853 average annual salary of a water plant operator.

The top three skills for a power system operator include SCADA, and . The most important skills for a water plant operator are water treatment plant, plant equipment, and water samples.

Power system operator vs water plant operator overview

	Power System Operator	Water Plant Operator
Yearly salary	$70,058	$45,853
Hourly rate	$33.68	$22.04
Growth rate	-7%	-7%
Number of jobs	43,559	39,348
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	12	12

Power system operator vs water plant operator salary

Power system operators and water plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Power System Operator	Water Plant Operator
Average salary	$70,058	$45,853
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $154,000	Between $32,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	-	Stockton, CA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	Santa Clara Valley Water District
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between power system operator and water plant operator education

There are a few differences between a power system operator and a water plant operator in terms of educational background:

	Power System Operator	Water Plant Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Power system operator vs water plant operator demographics

Here are the differences between power system operators' and water plant operators' demographics:

	Power System Operator	Water Plant Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9%	Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%	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%

Differences between power system operator and water plant operator duties and responsibilities

Power system operator example responsibilities.

Manage trouble ticketing systems and escalations to ensure VoIP service availability.
Gain on-hand experience establishing and maintaining LOS radio links with corresponding elements in tactical environments.
Provide excellent customer service and significantly improve the MSE equipment repair rate.

Water plant operator example responsibilities.

Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Prepare asphalt mixtures per customer requirements, load and unload tankers and monitor tanks and assist with paperwork
Operate small rotating biological contractor plant that utilize activated sludge with sand filters and UV disinfection to process wastewater.

Power system operator vs water plant operator skills

Common power system operator skills

SCADA, 100%

Common water plant operator skills

Water Treatment Plant, 10%
Plant Equipment, 6%
Water Samples, 6%
Lab Tests, 6%
SCADA, 6%
Water Quality, 5%

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Power System Operator vs Water Plant Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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