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Wastewater treatment plant attendant vs water operator

The differences between wastewater treatment plant attendants and water 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 wastewater treatment plant attendant and a water operator. Additionally, a wastewater treatment plant attendant has an average salary of $46,529, which is higher than the $43,748 average annual salary of a water operator.

The top three skills for a wastewater treatment plant attendant include water treatment plant, and . The most important skills for a water operator are treatment facilities, water samples, and CDL.

Wastewater treatment plant attendant vs water operator overview

Wastewater Treatment Plant AttendantWater Operator
Yearly salary$46,529$43,748
Hourly rate$22.37$21.03
Growth rate-7%-7%
Number of jobs55,16438,012
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age4747
Years of experience1212

Wastewater treatment plant attendant vs water operator salary

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

Wastewater Treatment Plant AttendantWater Operator
Average salary$46,529$43,748
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $64,000Between $32,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City-Bellevue, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Continental Resources
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between wastewater treatment plant attendant and water operator education

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

Wastewater Treatment Plant AttendantWater Operator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of California, BerkeleyDuke University

Wastewater treatment plant attendant vs water operator demographics

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

Wastewater Treatment Plant AttendantWater Operator
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 93.1% Female, 6.9%Male, 89.5% Female, 10.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between wastewater treatment plant attendant and water operator duties and responsibilities

Wastewater treatment plant attendant example responsibilities.

  • Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
  • Measure oxygen levels in SBR and aeration tanks with dissolve oxygen meter.
  • Utilize a variety of piping plumbing equipment, maintain and operate electrical distribution systems and generator distribution stations.
  • Support third shift manufacturing initiatives with a team of 45 IUE skil tradesmen.

Water operator example responsibilities.

  • Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
  • Learned how to mig and tig weld before being promote.
  • Programme and run Omax water jet, as well as solicited new project opportunities.
  • Work with various metals including: aluminum, stainless steel, ballistic steel, mild steel, and titanium.
  • Project experience includes working with steel, aluminum, stainless steel, glass, granite, wood, plastics and laminate.
  • Operate Gerber laser cutting system.
  • Show more

Wastewater treatment plant attendant vs water operator skills

Common wastewater treatment plant attendant skills
  • Water Treatment Plant, 100%
Common water operator skills
  • Treatment Facilities, 8%
  • Water Samples, 6%
  • CDL, 6%
  • Water Treatment Plant, 4%
  • Pump Stations, 4%
  • Water Quality, 4%

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