Water plant operator vs waste treatment operator

The differences between water plant operators and waste treatment 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 water plant operator and a waste treatment operator. Additionally, a waste treatment operator has an average salary of $47,317, which is higher than the $45,853 average annual salary of a water plant operator.

The top three skills for a water plant operator include water treatment plant, plant equipment and water samples. The most important skills for a waste treatment operator are OSHA, water samples, and hazardous materials.

Water plant operator vs waste treatment operator overview

	Water Plant Operator	Waste Treatment Operator
Yearly salary	$45,853	$47,317
Hourly rate	$22.04	$22.75
Growth rate	-7%	-7%
Number of jobs	39,348	29,892
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	Associate Degree, 31%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	12	12

Water plant operator vs waste treatment operator salary

Water plant operators and waste treatment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Water Plant Operator	Waste Treatment Operator
Average salary	$45,853	$47,317
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $65,000	Between $34,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	Stockton, CA	-
Highest paying state	Washington	-
Best paying company	Santa Clara Valley Water District	-
Best paying industry	Energy	-

Differences between water plant operator and waste treatment operator education

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

	Water Plant Operator	Waste Treatment Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	Associate Degree, 31%
Most common major	Business	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
Most common college	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Duke University

Water plant operator vs waste treatment operator demographics

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

	Water Plant Operator	Waste Treatment Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%	Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%	Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between water plant operator and waste treatment operator duties and responsibilities

Water plant operator example responsibilities.

Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Prepare asphalt mixtures per customer requirements, load and unload tankers and monitor tanks and assist with paperwork
Operate small rotating biological contractor plant that utilize activated sludge with sand filters and UV disinfection to process wastewater.

Waste treatment operator example responsibilities.

Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
Position require license issue by Illinois EPA.
Perform basic repairs and maintenance using plumbing and mechanical skills.
Perform repairs on all waste treatment and plating machinery, including electrical, mechanical, and plumbing relate breakdowns.
Work directly with production, engineering and maintenance personnel in the electroplating department.
Monitor, maintain and improve the operations of the industrial laboratory associate with the in house electroplating operation.

Water plant operator vs waste treatment operator skills

Common water plant operator skills

Water Treatment Plant, 10%
Plant Equipment, 6%
Water Samples, 6%
Lab Tests, 6%
SCADA, 6%
Water Quality, 5%

Common waste treatment operator skills

OSHA, 9%
Water Samples, 8%
Hazardous Materials, 7%
Test Water, 6%
Plumbing, 6%
Safety Procedures, 5%

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Water Plant Operator vs Waste Treatment Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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