Water plant operator demographics and statistics in the US
Water plant operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates water plant operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our water plant 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 plant operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 14,102 water plant operators currently employed in the United States.
- 10.0% of all water plant operators are women, while 90.0% are men.
- The average water plant operator age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of water plant operators is White (71.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (12.4%), Black or African American (7.6%) and Unknown (4.5%).
- Water plant operators are most in-demand in Iowa City, IA.
- Stockton, CA pays an annual average wage of $76,807, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women water plant operators earned 102% of what men earned.
- Vermont is the best state for water plant operators to live.
- Water plant operators are 50% more likely to work at government companies in comparison to private companies.
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Water plant operator demographics by:
Water plant operator gender statistics
10.0% of water plant operators are women and 90.0% of water plant operators are men.
- Male, 90.0%
- Female, 10.0%
Water plant operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 90.0% |
| Female | 10.0% |
Water plant operator gender pay gap
Women earn $1.02 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$46,205
Female income
$46,998
Water plant operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in water plant operator positions over time. Currently, 10.0% of water plant operators are female.
Water plant operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 88.63% | 11.37% |
| 2011 | 89.43% | 10.57% |
| 2012 | 90.14% | 9.86% |
| 2013 | 91.43% | 8.57% |
| 2014 | 88.25% | 11.75% |
| 2015 | 88.94% | 11.06% |
| 2016 | 90.50% | 9.50% |
| 2017 | 88.63% | 11.37% |
| 2018 | 86.30% | 13.70% |
| 2019 | 87.30% | 12.70% |
| 2020 | 84.25% | 15.75% |
| 2021 | 89.96% | 10.04% |
Water plant operator related jobs gender ratio
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Water Plant Operator | 90% | 10% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Water plant operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among water plant operators is White, which makes up 71.2% of all water plant operators. Comparatively, 12.4% of water plant operators are Hispanic or Latino and 7.6% of water plant operators are Black or African American.
- White, 71.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 12.4%
- Black or African American, 7.6%
- Unknown, 4.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%
- Asian, 1.8%
Water plant operator race
| Water plant operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 71.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12.4% |
| Black or African American | 7.6% |
| Unknown | 4.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.5% |
| Asian | 1.8% |
Water plant operator race and ethnicity over time
See how water plant operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Water plant operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 74.17% | 9.99% | 0.59% | 10.78% |
| 2011 | 74.39% | 10.37% | 1.12% | 9.90% |
| 2012 | 75.85% | 8.88% | 1.54% | 10.08% |
| 2013 | 73.71% | 9.63% | 1.18% | 10.46% |
| 2014 | 75.09% | 8.66% | 1.40% | 11.50% |
| 2015 | 74.20% | 7.62% | 1.83% | 11.82% |
| 2016 | 73.79% | 9.35% | 1.75% | 11.59% |
| 2017 | 75.88% | 8.28% | 1.46% | 10.84% |
| 2018 | 77.09% | 7.87% | 1.49% | 9.85% |
| 2019 | 76.79% | 7.59% | 1.17% | 10.26% |
| 2020 | 71.81% | 7.10% | 2.14% | 11.21% |
| 2021 | 71.19% | 7.61% | 1.83% | 12.37% |
Water plant operator wage gap by race
According to our data, asian water plant operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown water plant operators have the lowest average salary at $43,309.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $43,309 |
| White | $46,060 |
| Black or African American | $46,892 |
| Asian | $49,779 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $45,227 |
Average water plant operator age
See how the average age of water plant operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Water plant 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 plant operator age breakdown
The average age of water plant operators is 40+ years years old, representing 71% of the water plant operator population.
Water plant operator age breakdown
| Water Plant Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 71% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Water plant operator educational attainment
The most common degree for water plant operators is bachelor's degree, with 33% of water plant operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 29% and associate degree degree at 27%.
- Bachelor's, 33%
- Associate, 29%
- High School Diploma, 27%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Water plant operators by degree level
| Water plant operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 33% |
| Associate | 29% |
| High School Diploma | 27% |
| Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Water plant operator jobs you might like
Water plant operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, water plant operators with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $50,063 annually. With a Associate degree, water plant operators earn a median annual income of $49,580 compared to $45,575 for water plant operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $45,575 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $50,063 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $49,580 |
Water plant operator employment statistics
Most water plant operators work for a government in the government industry.
Company size where water plant operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where water plant operators work.
Water plant operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 25% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 30% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Water plant operator jobs by company type
Employees with the water plant operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most water plant operators prefer to work at government companies over private companies.
Water plant operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 12% |
| Private | 35% |
| Government | 50% |
Water plant operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for water plant operators are government, utilities and manufacturing.
Water plant operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 47% |
| Utilities | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 9% |
| Energy | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Professional | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
Water plant operator turnover and employment statistics
Water plant operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for water plant operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Water plant operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Water plant 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 plant operator tenure
The average water plant operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,161 water plant operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Water plant operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 15% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 17% |
Water plant operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of water plant 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Room Operator | 4.19% | 61,977 |
| Water Plant Operator | 4.62% | - |
| Booster Plant Operator | 4.80% | 34,467 |
| Biodiesel Processing Technician | 10.89% | 16,514 |
Similar water plant operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Room Operator | 4.19% | 61,977 |
| Booster Plant Operator | 4.80% | 34,467 |
| Biodiesel Processing Technician | 10.89% | 16,514 |
Foreign languages spoken by water plant operators
The most common foreign language among water plant operators is Spanish at 44.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Chinese at 11.1% and Japanese is the third-most popular at 11.1%.
- Spanish, 44.4%
- Chinese, 11.1%
- Japanese, 11.1%
- Carrier, 11.1%
- Arabic, 11.1%
- Other, 11.2%
Water plant operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 44.4% |
| Chinese | 11.1% |
| Japanese | 11.1% |
| Carrier | 11.1% |
| Arabic | 11.1% |
| Other | 11.2% |
