Wastewater treatment operator demographics and statistics in the US
Wastewater treatment operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates wastewater treatment operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our wastewater treatment operator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about wastewater treatment operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 17,355 wastewater treatment operators currently employed in the United States.
- 9.0% of all wastewater treatment operators are women, while 91.0% are men.
- The average wastewater treatment operator age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of wastewater treatment operators is White (71.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (12.4%), Black or African American (7.6%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- Wastewater treatment operators are most in-demand in Charlton, MA.
- The professional industry is the highest-paying for wastewater treatment operators.
- Mercer Island, WA pays an annual average wage of $73,252, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women wastewater treatment operators earned 102% of what men earned.
- 5% of all wastewater treatment operators are LGBT.
- Idaho is the best state for wastewater treatment operators to live.
- Wastewater treatment operators are 41% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Wastewater treatment operator demographics by:
Wastewater treatment operator gender statistics
9.0% of wastewater treatment operators are women and 91.0% of wastewater treatment operators are men.
- Male, 91.0%
- Female, 9.0%
Wastewater treatment operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 91.0% |
| Female | 9.0% |
Wastewater treatment operator gender pay gap
Women earn $1.02 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$45,963
Female income
$46,739
Wastewater treatment operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in wastewater treatment operator positions over time. Currently, 9.0% of wastewater treatment operators are female.
Wastewater treatment operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 89.77% | 10.23% |
| 2011 | 90.50% | 9.50% |
| 2012 | 91.15% | 8.85% |
| 2013 | 92.32% | 7.68% |
| 2014 | 89.43% | 10.57% |
| 2015 | 90.06% | 9.94% |
| 2016 | 91.47% | 8.53% |
| 2017 | 89.78% | 10.22% |
| 2018 | 87.64% | 12.36% |
| 2019 | 88.56% | 11.44% |
| 2020 | 85.76% | 14.24% |
| 2021 | 90.98% | 9.02% |
Wastewater treatment operator related jobs gender ratio
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Wastewater Treatment Operator | 91% | 9% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Wastewater treatment operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among wastewater treatment operators is White, which makes up 71.1% of all wastewater treatment operators. Comparatively, 12.4% of wastewater treatment operators are Hispanic or Latino and 7.6% of wastewater treatment operators are Black or African American.
- White, 71.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 12.4%
- Black or African American, 7.6%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%
- Asian, 1.8%
Wastewater treatment operator race
| Wastewater treatment operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 71.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12.4% |
| Black or African American | 7.6% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.5% |
| Asian | 1.8% |
Wastewater treatment operator race and ethnicity over time
See how wastewater treatment operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Wastewater treatment operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 74.05% | 10.02% | 0.59% | 10.83% |
| 2011 | 74.28% | 10.41% | 1.12% | 9.95% |
| 2012 | 75.73% | 8.92% | 1.54% | 10.13% |
| 2013 | 73.59% | 9.66% | 1.18% | 10.51% |
| 2014 | 74.97% | 8.69% | 1.40% | 11.55% |
| 2015 | 74.09% | 7.65% | 1.83% | 11.87% |
| 2016 | 73.67% | 9.38% | 1.75% | 11.64% |
| 2017 | 75.76% | 8.31% | 1.46% | 10.89% |
| 2018 | 76.97% | 7.91% | 1.49% | 9.90% |
| 2019 | 76.67% | 7.63% | 1.17% | 10.31% |
| 2020 | 71.69% | 7.13% | 2.15% | 11.26% |
| 2021 | 71.07% | 7.64% | 1.84% | 12.41% |
Wastewater treatment operator wage gap by race
According to our data, asian wastewater treatment operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown wastewater treatment operators have the lowest average salary at $43,126.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $43,126 |
| White | $45,820 |
| Black or African American | $46,635 |
| Asian | $49,461 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $45,005 |
Average wastewater treatment operator age
See how the average age of wastewater treatment operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Wastewater treatment operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 45 | |
| White | 48 | 43.5 |
| Black or African American | 50 | |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 46 |
Wastewater treatment operator age breakdown
The average age of wastewater treatment operators is 40+ years years old, representing 71% of the wastewater treatment operator population.
Wastewater treatment operator age breakdown
| Wastewater Treatment Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 71% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Wastewater treatment operator educational attainment
The most common degree for wastewater treatment operators is bachelor's degree, with 31% of wastewater treatment operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 28% and high school diploma degree at 26%.
- Bachelor's, 31%
- High School Diploma, 28%
- Associate, 26%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Wastewater treatment operators by degree level
| Wastewater treatment operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 31% |
| High School Diploma | 28% |
| Associate | 26% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Wastewater treatment operator jobs you might like
Wastewater treatment operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, wastewater treatment operators with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $49,739 annually. With a Associate degree, wastewater treatment operators earn a median annual income of $49,267 compared to $45,345 for wastewater treatment operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $45,345 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $49,739 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $49,267 |
Wastewater treatment operator employment statistics
Most wastewater treatment operators work for a private in the government industry.
Company size where wastewater treatment operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where wastewater treatment operators work.
Wastewater treatment operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 31% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 21% |
| > 10,000 employees | 16% |
Wastewater treatment operator jobs by company type
Employees with the wastewater treatment operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most wastewater treatment operators prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Wastewater treatment operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 16% |
| Private | 41% |
| Government | 41% |
Wastewater treatment operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for wastewater treatment operators are government, manufacturing and utilities.
Wastewater treatment operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 37% |
| Manufacturing | 16% |
| Utilities | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Agriculture | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Wastewater treatment operator turnover and employment statistics
Wastewater treatment operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for wastewater treatment operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Wastewater treatment operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Wastewater treatment operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.49% |
| 2011 | 3.19% |
| 2012 | 2.40% |
| 2013 | 2.30% |
| 2014 | 2.09% |
| 2015 | 1.91% |
| 2016 | 1.70% |
| 2017 | 0.98% |
| 2018 | 1.09% |
| 2019 | 1.23% |
| 2020 | 2.69% |
| 2021 | 1.40% |
Average wastewater treatment operator tenure
The average wastewater treatment operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,641 wastewater treatment operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Wastewater treatment operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 14% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 20% |
| 8-10 years | 8% |
| 11+ years | 15% |
Wastewater treatment operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of wastewater treatment operators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler Fireman | 4.19% | 503 |
| Wastewater Treatment Operator | 4.62% | - |
| Nuclear Reactor Operator | 4.80% | 33,183 |
| Biofuels Processing Technician | 10.89% | 34,759 |
Similar wastewater treatment operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler Fireman | 4.19% | 503 |
| Nuclear Reactor Operator | 4.80% | 33,183 |
| Biofuels Processing Technician | 10.89% | 34,759 |
Foreign languages spoken by wastewater treatment operators
The most common foreign language among wastewater treatment operators is Spanish at 66.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.3% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 4.2%.
- Spanish, 66.7%
- French, 8.3%
- Portuguese, 4.2%
- Chinese, 4.2%
- German, 4.2%
- Other, 12.4%
Wastewater treatment operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 66.7% |
| French | 8.3% |
| Portuguese | 4.2% |
| Chinese | 4.2% |
| German | 4.2% |
| Other | 12.4% |
