Water operator demographics and statistics in the US
Water operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates water operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our water 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 water operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 16,272 water operators currently employed in the United States.
- 10.5% of all water operators are women, while 89.5% are men.
- The average water operator age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of water operators is White (71.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (12.3%), Black or African American (7.6%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- Water operators are most in-demand in Prescott Valley, AZ.
- Bellevue, WA pays an annual average wage of $70,960, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women water operators earned 101% of what men earned.
- Vermont is the best state for water operators to live.
- Water operators are 41% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Water operator demographics by:
Water operator gender statistics
10.5% of water operators are women and 89.5% of water operators are men.
- Male, 89.5%
- Female, 10.5%
Water operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 89.5% |
| Female | 10.5% |
Water operator gender pay gap
Women earn $1.01 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$44,026
Female income
$44,650
Water operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in water operator positions over time. Currently, 10.5% of water operators are female.
Water operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 88.07% | 11.93% |
| 2011 | 88.91% | 11.09% |
| 2012 | 89.65% | 10.35% |
| 2013 | 91.00% | 9.00% |
| 2014 | 87.68% | 12.32% |
| 2015 | 88.40% | 11.60% |
| 2016 | 90.03% | 9.97% |
| 2017 | 88.08% | 11.92% |
| 2018 | 85.65% | 14.35% |
| 2019 | 86.69% | 13.31% |
| 2020 | 83.52% | 16.48% |
| 2021 | 89.46% | 10.54% |
Water operator related jobs gender ratio
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Water Operator | 89% | 11% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Water operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among water operators is White, which makes up 71.1% of all water operators. Comparatively, 12.3% of water operators are Hispanic or Latino and 7.6% of water operators are Black or African American.
- White, 71.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 12.3%
- Black or African American, 7.6%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%
- Asian, 1.8%
Water operator race
| Water operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 71.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12.3% |
| Black or African American | 7.6% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.6% |
| Asian | 1.8% |
Water operator race and ethnicity over time
See how water operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Water operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 74.10% | 9.95% | 0.59% | 10.72% |
| 2011 | 74.32% | 10.33% | 1.11% | 9.84% |
| 2012 | 75.78% | 8.84% | 1.54% | 10.01% |
| 2013 | 73.64% | 9.59% | 1.18% | 10.40% |
| 2014 | 75.02% | 8.61% | 1.40% | 11.44% |
| 2015 | 74.13% | 7.57% | 1.83% | 11.76% |
| 2016 | 73.72% | 9.31% | 1.75% | 11.53% |
| 2017 | 75.81% | 8.23% | 1.46% | 10.77% |
| 2018 | 77.02% | 7.83% | 1.49% | 9.79% |
| 2019 | 76.72% | 7.55% | 1.17% | 10.19% |
| 2020 | 71.74% | 7.05% | 2.14% | 11.14% |
| 2021 | 71.12% | 7.57% | 1.83% | 12.30% |
Water operator wage gap by race
According to our data, asian water operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown water operators have the lowest average salary at $41,731.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $41,731 |
| White | $43,911 |
| Black or African American | $44,566 |
| Asian | $46,824 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $43,254 |
Average water operator age
See how the average age of water operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Water 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 |
Water operator age breakdown
The average age of water operators is 40+ years years old, representing 71% of the water operator population.
Water operator age breakdown
| Water Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 71% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Water operator educational attainment
The most common degree for water operators is bachelor's degree, with 34% of water operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 27% and high school diploma degree at 26%.
- Bachelor's, 34%
- High School Diploma, 27%
- Associate, 26%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Water operators by degree level
| Water operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 34% |
| High School Diploma | 27% |
| Associate | 26% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Water operator jobs you might like
Water operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, water operators with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $47,045 annually. With a Associate degree, water operators earn a median annual income of $46,670 compared to $43,528 for water operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,528 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,045 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,670 |
Water operator employment statistics
Most water operators work for a private in the government industry.
Company size where water operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where water operators work.
Water operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 37% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 18% |
| > 10,000 employees | 14% |
Water operator jobs by company type
Employees with the water operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most water operators prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Water operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 16% |
| Private | 41% |
| Government | 41% |
Water operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for water operators are government, utilities and professional.
Water operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 35% |
| Utilities | 10% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Construction | 5% |
| Energy | 5% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Water operator turnover and employment statistics
Water operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for water operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Water operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Water 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 water operator tenure
The average water operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,224 water operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Water operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 18% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 14% |
Water operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of water 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fan Engine Engineer | 4.19% | 3,074 |
| Water Operator | 4.62% | - |
| Assistant Plant Control Operator | 4.80% | 64,038 |
| Nitrogen Operator | 10.89% | 30,368 |
Similar water operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Fan Engine Engineer | 4.19% | 3,074 |
| Assistant Plant Control Operator | 4.80% | 64,038 |
| Nitrogen Operator | 10.89% | 30,368 |
Foreign languages spoken by water operators
The most common foreign language among water operators is Spanish at 54.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Swedish at 9.1% and Danish is the third-most popular at 9.1%.
- Spanish, 54.5%
- Swedish, 9.1%
- Danish, 9.1%
- Turkish, 9.1%
- German, 9.1%
- Other, 9.1%
Water operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 54.5% |
| Swedish | 9.1% |
| Danish | 9.1% |
| Turkish | 9.1% |
| German | 9.1% |
| Other | 9.1% |
