How to hire a water engineer

How to hire a water engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step water engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a water engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new water engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a water engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your water engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a water engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A water engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, water engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents water engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Water Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Water Engineer	Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control.	$33-67
   Wastewater Project Engineer	A wastewater project engineer is responsible for overseeing projects that involve the provision of potable water, prevention of flood damage, and the disposal of sewage or wastewater. Wastewater project engineers are tasked with data management and analysis, regulatory program compliance, and fieldwork... Show more	$26-50
   Water/Wastewater Engineer	Water/wastewater engineers are professionals who are responsible for designing treatment facilities that dispose of wastewater and sewage to prevent flood-related damage and provide portable water. These engineers are required to perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design as well as map out the water distribution system using AutoCAD... Show more	$27-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Infrastructure
   • Cost Estimates
   • GIS
   • Conveyance
   • Treatment Facilities
   • Water Resources
   • Technical Reports
   • Construction Projects
   • Pump Stations
   • Technical Support
   • Rehabilitation
   • Business Development
   • Storm Water
   • Engineering Design

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Support DOD agency needs in accomplishing engineer technical and non-technical goals associate with wireless LAN technology products.
   • Standardize procedures and methods for performing RF coverage analysis and verification.
   • Raise IP awareness by developing outreach programs to key business and technical stakeholders.
   • Perform RF radiation hazard analysis for all facility emitters to establish personnel safety zones.
   • Facilitate evolution/formulation of product architecture.
   • Facilitate evolution/formulation of product architecture.

   More water engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the water engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A water engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a water engineer in Wisconsin may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level water engineer. Additionally, a water engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average water engineer salary

   $98,752yearly

   $47.48 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level water engineer salary

   $69,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 15, 2026

   Average water engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$133,022	$64
   2	Oregon	$108,265	$52
   3	Texas	$105,129	$51
   4	Virginia	$104,254	$50
   5	Colorado	$100,457	$48
   6	Arizona	$96,276	$46
   7	Illinois	$94,403	$45
   8	New Jersey	$93,721	$45
   9	Maryland	$93,707	$45
   10	Utah	$91,961	$44
   11	New York	$89,127	$43
   12	Pennsylvania	$88,555	$43
   13	Florida	$85,986	$41
   14	Georgia	$85,197	$41
   15	Ohio	$78,035	$38

   Average water engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chevron	$131,981	$63.45
   2	Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display)	$113,676	$54.65	6
   3	Goodwin Recruiting	$112,715	$54.19	7
   4	Projects	$108,049	$51.95	1
   5	Jacobs Enterprises	$107,713	$51.79	111
   6	Colorado State Express	$107,712	$51.78
   7	Texas Instruments	$107,258	$51.57
   8	National Water Main Cleaning	$106,278	$51.10
   9	Ghd Inc	$105,854	$50.89	15
   10	Associated University	$105,452	$50.70
   11	Snc-lavalin Project Services, Inc.	$105,365	$50.66
   12	Aquatech	$104,868	$50.42
   13	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$103,328	$49.68
   14	Cliffs	$102,281	$49.17
   15	Tesla	$101,753	$48.92
   16	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$101,482	$48.79	1
   17	Hyatt Hotels	$98,833	$47.52
   18	Micron Technology	$98,369	$47.29	1
   19	Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc.	$98,187	$47.21
   20	Intel	$96,845	$46.56

4. Writing a water engineer job description

   A good water engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a water engineer job description:

   Water engineer job description example

   Do you like to solve problems in an engaging, collaborative, team environment? Are you excited about discovery, technical innovation, and achievement? Does working in a flexible culture with professional growth opportunities, a family friendly vibe, and smart, caring colleagues make for a great day? If so, consider an employment opportunity at Foth and join these members who enjoy their employment experience.
   
   Our Infrastructure Solutions business focuses on working with public agencies to solve challenges with our built infrastructure, improving the quality of life for all by helping people safely and efficiently travel, delivering clean water, and protecting public health. We partner alongside clients in all project phases, from planning through construction, on building roads, airports and water systems. Our focus is on the people we serve, and their success is our inspiration.
   
   Foth's Water and Wastewater Services is seeking a team-focused, innovative, and results-driven Lead Drinking Water Engineer who is looking to be a significant contributor in discipline development and the design of diverse civil engineering projects. This position can be based out of our Milwaukee, Madison, Rapid City, or Minneapolis locations.
   
   Growth, safety, and aging infrastructure - these are all challenges faced by nearly every community today. As a member of the Foth Infrastructure Water team, you will help clients meet these challenges by delivering innovative water solutions, preserving infrastructure, and protecting the public and our natural resources. You will take a lead role in providing effective solutions that allow for affordable growth and development of our communities.
   
   Primary ResponsibilitiesLead technical engineering project designs and reports for drinking water supply, treatment, storage, and distribution Prepare design plans, specifications, and bid documents for water system construction projects including water wells, treatment plants, storage, booster stations, and other distribution needs Develop technical drinking water reports for local, state, and federal agencies Establish, implement, and continuously improve discipline-specific standard work, training programs, and QA/QC systems Support and develop the technical vision and strategic direction for the drinking water discipline in cooperation with the Water Technical Competency Leader
   
   Required QualificationsBachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited program Minimum of 5 years of experience with municipal drinking water engineering in the engineering consulting industry Professional Engineer (PE) License with the ability to obtain licensure in Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota within 12 months
   
   Preferred Qualifications10+ years of experience leading technical teams and working directly with clients while conducting hands-on engineering including design, reports, and feasibility studies for drinking water projects Software proficiency in water system modeling
   
   All Foth Companies are equal opportunity employers and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. All locations are tobacco-free.
   
   Foth, the largest engineering and science consulting firm headquartered in Wisconsin, employs more than 650 members and operates in 28 locations to provide our national and international clients with convenient, personal services.
   
   Our dynamic science and engineering teams at Foth are organized into business units - Environment Solutions, Infrastructure Solutions, and Production Solutions - each comprised of extraordinary talent embodying decades of knowledge and specialized expertise. We bring our 80 year history of success and interdisciplinary knowledge to every client we serve, understanding their business, providing trusted advice, and developing customized, innovative solutions with remarkable energy and ingenuity.
   
   Foth provides engineers, scientists, and other talented professionals an award-winning employment experience, including flexibility to balance work and life. We take on our clients' toughest challenges which provides meaningful project assignments working alongside creative and dedicated team members.
   
   Foth's commitment to our members is demonstrated by annually reinvesting 5% of professional fee revenues in professional development activities. Our work environment is professional, collaborative, and fun. Each day, we work together in a unified, values-based culture, helping our clients' achieve their goals and improving the world we live in.
   Join our team and experience the Foth difference!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right water engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your water engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit water engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting water engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new water engineer

   Once you've found the water engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new water engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a water engineer?