Wastewater plant operator vs operator

The differences between wastewater plant operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a wastewater plant operator, becoming an operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a wastewater plant operator has an average salary of $45,658, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.

The top three skills for a wastewater plant operator include minor maintenance, plant operations and plant equipment. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.

Wastewater plant operator vs operator overview

	Wastewater Plant Operator	Operator
Yearly salary	$45,658	$37,928
Hourly rate	$21.95	$18.23
Growth rate	-7%	7%
Number of jobs	38,412	159,077
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 35%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	47	43
Years of experience	12	4

Wastewater plant operator vs operator salary

Wastewater plant operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Wastewater Plant Operator	Operator
Average salary	$45,658	$37,928
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $64,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Redding, CA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	North Dakota
Best paying company	Icma-rc	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Utilities	Technology

Differences between wastewater plant operator and operator education

There are a few differences between a wastewater plant operator and an operator in terms of educational background:

	Wastewater Plant Operator	Operator
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 35%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians	Business
Most common college	Duke University	-

Wastewater plant operator vs operator demographics

Here are the differences between wastewater plant operators' and operators' demographics:

	Wastewater Plant Operator	Operator
Average age	47	43
Gender ratio	Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%	Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%	Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	5%	4%

Differences between wastewater plant operator and operator duties and responsibilities

Wastewater plant operator example responsibilities.

Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Monitor SCADA systems for plant operation.
Operate sewage sludge incinerators and belt filter presses.
Operate pumps and blowers as dictated by process needs.
Conduct laboratory tests of samples to ensure EPA safety parameters.
Complete daily composite sampling in accordance with regulatory compliance as established by the Ohio EPA.

Operator example responsibilities.

Assist in developing the company s short and long term training plans and managing yearly ammunition allocation.
Assist and manage the extrusion process of polyester raw material in pellet or chip form to produce finish rolls of plastic.
Manage day-to-day transportation and logistics services for multinational account base.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Job require basic math skills: fractions and decimals.
Ensure safety of all equipment during production in compliance with strict OSHA and safety regulations.

Wastewater plant operator vs operator skills

Common wastewater plant operator skills

Minor Maintenance, 14%
Plant Operations, 7%
Plant Equipment, 7%
Routine Maintenance, 6%
Lab Tests, 5%
Mechanical Equipment, 5%

Common operator skills

Safety Procedures, 15%
CDL, 6%
Emergency Calls, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%
Quality Checks, 4%
Dozer, 4%