Water pump operator vs water plant operator

The differences between water pump operators and water plant 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 pump operator and a water plant operator. Additionally, a water pump operator has an average salary of $58,750, which is higher than the $45,853 average annual salary of a water plant operator.

The top three skills for a water pump operator include water truck, water lines and . The most important skills for a water plant operator are water treatment plant, plant equipment, and water samples.

Water pump operator vs water plant operator overview

	Water Pump Operator	Water Plant Operator
Yearly salary	$58,750	$45,853
Hourly rate	$28.25	$22.04
Growth rate	-7%	-7%
Number of jobs	31,883	39,348
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	12	12

Water pump operator vs water plant operator salary

Water pump operators and water plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Water Pump Operator	Water Plant Operator
Average salary	$58,750	$45,853
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $110,000	Between $32,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	-	Stockton, CA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	Santa Clara Valley Water District
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between water pump operator and water plant operator education

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

	Water Pump Operator	Water Plant Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common major	General Studies	Business
Most common college	Duke University	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Water pump operator vs water plant operator demographics

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

	Water Pump Operator	Water Plant Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2%	Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%	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%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between water pump operator and water plant operator duties and responsibilities

Water pump operator example responsibilities.

Manage and oversee all aspects of waste water operation including liaison work with the DNR EPA and city officials.
Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments such as micrometers and vernier calipers.
Perform controlled demolition and removal of affect home or businesses structure as per strict insurance guidelines.

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.

Water pump operator vs water plant operator skills

Common water pump operator skills

Water Truck, 53%
Water Lines, 47%

Common water plant operator skills

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

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Water Pump Operator vs Water Plant Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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