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The differences between wastewater treatment 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 treatment operator, becoming an operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a wastewater treatment operator has an average salary of $45,618, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.
The top three skills for a wastewater treatment operator include plant equipment, process control and blowers. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| Wastewater Treatment Operator | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $45,618 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $21.93 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 32,561 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A wastewater treatment operator is responsible for overseeing the daily operations in water treatment plans, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their duties include coordinating with different staff, operating controls and systems, gathering water samples, maintaining the cleanliness of all areas and equipment, and monitoring the progress of all operations. They must also keep accurate records of data, reporting progress to managers or supervisors. Furthermore, as a wastewater treatment operator, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
Wastewater treatment operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Wastewater Treatment Operator | Operator | |
| Average salary | $45,618 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $64,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mercer Island, WA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a wastewater treatment operator and an operator in terms of educational background:
| Wastewater Treatment Operator | Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | - |
Here are the differences between wastewater treatment operators' and operators' demographics:
| Wastewater Treatment Operator | Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% | 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% |