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Water pumper vs wastewater treatment operator

The differences between water pumpers and wastewater 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 pumper and a wastewater treatment operator. Additionally, a water pumper has an average salary of $56,410, which is higher than the $45,618 average annual salary of a wastewater treatment operator.

The top three skills for a water pumper include pump stations, and . The most important skills for a wastewater treatment operator are plant equipment, process control, and blowers.

Water pumper vs wastewater treatment operator overview

Water PumperWastewater Treatment Operator
Yearly salary$56,410$45,618
Hourly rate$27.12$21.93
Growth rate-7%-7%
Number of jobs4,14632,561
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age4747
Years of experience1212

Water pumper vs wastewater treatment operator salary

Water pumpers and wastewater treatment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Water PumperWastewater Treatment Operator
Average salary$56,410$45,618
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $101,000Between $32,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City-Mercer Island, WA
Highest paying state-Idaho
Best paying company-Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between water pumper and wastewater treatment operator education

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

Water PumperWastewater Treatment Operator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common majorBusinessEnvironmental Control Technologies/Technicians
Most common collegeRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteDuke University

Water pumper vs wastewater treatment operator demographics

Here are the differences between water pumpers' and wastewater treatment operators' demographics:

Water PumperWastewater Treatment Operator
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 89.4% Female, 10.6%Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between water pumper and wastewater treatment operator duties and responsibilities

Water pumper example responsibilities.

  • Manage water usage plumbing repair electronics repair inventory control.
  • Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments such as micrometers and vernier calipers.
  • Clean tanks and gravity filter beds including sedimentation clarifiers.
  • Measure acidity and alkalinity of clarifier overflow to determine efficiency of impurity recovery, using pH meter.

Wastewater treatment operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
  • Monitor plant and lift station performance by regularly checking SCADA system on computer.
  • Inspect facilities, equipment and plumbing for effects for corrosive, flammable and combustible gas.
  • Optimize internal controls and process to comply with new parameters set by EPA and JCA.
  • Review and remain current on OSHA standards and regulations for general industry and perform safety audits.
  • Utilize computers for SCADA monitoring, data input, work order tracking and other uses of technology.
  • Show more

Water pumper vs wastewater treatment operator skills

Common water pumper skills
  • Pump Stations, 100%
Common wastewater treatment operator skills
  • Plant Equipment, 5%
  • Process Control, 5%
  • Blowers, 5%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%
  • Plant Operations, 4%

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