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How to hire a water system operator

Water system operator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring water system operators in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a water system operator is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per water system operator on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 4,011 water system operators in the US, and there are currently 48,105 job openings in this field.
  • Hilliard, OH, has the highest demand for water system operators, with 3 job openings.

How to hire a water system operator, step by step

To hire a water system operator, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a water system operator:

Here's a step-by-step water system operator hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a water system operator job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new water system operator
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your water system operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a water system operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a water system operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a water system operator that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of water system operators.

    Type of Water System OperatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Water System OperatorWater and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.$14-25
    Water Treatment TechnicianWater treatment technicians work every day in observing agricultural plant functions, which includes obtaining the daily requirements and making suitable adjustments to satisfy those demands. They carefully implement process sampling to exactly gauge and keep track of levels... Show more$13-32
    Utility Plant OperativeA utility plant operator monitors, operates, repairs, and maintains utility equipment and systems. Utility plant operators work on the operation, maintenance, and repair of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems... Show more$13-28
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Hand Tools
    • SCADA
    • Potable Water
    • Plumbing
    • Water Distribution System
    • Water Treatment
    • Water Samples
    • Water Lines
    • General Maintenance
    • Water Meters
    • Asphalt
    • Customer Complaints
    • Treatment Plant
    • Routine Maintenance
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and oversee all aspects of waste water operation including liaison work with the DNR EPA and city officials.
    • Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
    • Measure acidity and alkalinity of clarifier overflow to determine efficiency of impurity recovery, using pH meter.
    More water system operator duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the water system operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A water system operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a water system operator in Georgia may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level water system operator. Additionally, a water system operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average water system operator salary

    $40,831yearly

    $19.63 hourly rate

    Entry-level water system operator salary
    $30,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026

    Average water system operator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$56,406$27
    2California$50,548$24
    3Connecticut$46,759$22
    4Colorado$40,191$19
    5Arizona$39,255$19
    6Florida$38,426$18
    7Utah$35,446$17
    8Texas$32,409$16

    Average water system operator salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1City of San Jos$52,448$25.221
    2Princeton University$47,660$22.911
    31 8 3 Lanes$47,117$22.65
    4City of Downey$47,082$22.641
    5City of Riverside$46,721$22.46
    6American Water$45,895$22.0611
    7Weston & Sampson$42,251$20.3115
    8Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City$41,626$20.013
    9Brigham Moore$41,226$19.82
    10Lehi City$40,398$19.42
    11State of Connecticut$40,333$19.39
    12City of Tucson$40,302$19.381
    13Loveland City Hall$39,989$19.236
    14City of Menlo Park$38,862$18.681
    15G&A Partners$38,804$18.66
    16Washington City Paper$35,395$17.02
    17Aerotek$34,685$16.68245
  4. Writing a water system operator job description

    A water system operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a water system operator job description:

    Water system operator job description example

    Annual Wage: $38,973 (Later move Depending on Experience)



    GENERAL PURPOSE

    Performs a variety of "restricted" apprentice level skilled duties related to the construction, installation, maintenance and repair of city water and sewer systems.


    SUPERVISION RECEIVED


    Works under general supervision of the Water System Supervisor.


    SUPERVISION EXERCISED


    Provides close to general supervision to Water Systems Operator I while in training or on a project-by-project basis.


    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS


    Water: Operates various types of heavy equipment such as operates six or ten wheel transport trucks, backhoe, rollers and trenching equipment; performs installation or repair of water service connections, water lines and meters; flushes, repairs or replaces fire hydrants and plugged water meters; repairs water mains; cleans and maintains storage tanks, cleans reservoirs; connects and disconnects service; searches out shut off valves; water line leaks; assists in placement of pipe and water regulators; removes, disassembles, cleans or replaces defective parts of regulators, adjusts pilot valves as needed to assure efficient water line service.


    Installs new water lines using backhoe, pipe threader, tapping machine, welder, pipe cutting saw, pipe and cable locator old water lines; tears out and repairs curb, gutter and street in locating and uncovering broken lines; builds meter boxes; builds extensions to raise or lower existing boxes as needed.


    Operates a variety of hand tools and small power equipment such as jack hammers, roller, compressors, packing machine, gopher, tamper, tapping machine; cleans tools and equipment to assure proper working order.


    Maintains pump house; repairs water/booster pumps; removes and disassembles pumps; cleans and replaces defective parts, grease bearing, adjusts packing and reinstalls in pump housing.


    Performs field and shop repairs on water meters, removes meter, disassemble, cleans and/or replaces defective parts, reassembles and tests to assure proper working order; sets blue stake markers.


    Participates in work zone safety procedures; flags on coming vehicles to protect the public and workers; sets up warning signs and signalization equipment.


    Performs general maintenance in the upkeep of facilities and equipment; paints water tanks, well buildings, floors, etc.; assures clean and functional work areas; operates high pressure steam cleaning equipment as needed.


    Performs related duties as required.


    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS


    1. Education and Experience:


    A. Graduation from high school;

    AND



    Water Systems Operator II, page 2


    B. Three (3) years' experience in construction, maintenance or repair of water distribution systems;

    OR


    C. An equivalent combination of education and experience.


    2.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:


    Working knowledge of operating basic manual and power tools; the standard practices, methods, materials and tools necessary for pipe line construction and repair activities; pipe fitting procedures, pipe classifications and type; the occupational hazards and safety precautions of trench work construction and pipeline maintenance work; hazards common to heavy equipment operation; drain system construction methods etc.; water supply and distribution systems; construction requirements for water distribution and pumping systems; hazards associated with water treatment chemicals; sewer line chemical cleaning procedures and associated hazards; state or federal regulations governing installation and maintenance of water systems; water quality laws; interpersonal communication skills


    Ability to operate heavy equipment of various kinds under varying conditions; make minor repairs on assigned vehicles, perform heavy physical labor; develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, elected officials, local agencies and the general public; communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; work from blueprints; tolerate weather extremes in the work environment; ability to perform basic mathematical computations in reading and using various meters, gauges and related devices.


    3.Special Qualifications:


    Must possess a Water System Operator I, II, III or IV certification. Must be a certified flagger. Must be Backflow certified. Must possess a valid commercial drivers license. Must be able to lift 50-75 pounds. Must be willing to work on-call duty and 24 hour standby.


    4.Work Environment:


    Tasks require variety of physical activities, generally involving muscular strain, such as walking, standing, stooping, sitting, reaching. Talking, hearing and seeing essential to performing required job functions. Common eye, hand, finger dexterity exist. Mental application utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, emotional stability and discriminating thinking . Daily local travel required in normal course of job performance.


    *****

    Disclaimer : The above statements describe the general nature, level, and type of work performed by the incumbent(s) assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, demands, and skills required of personnel so classified. Job descriptions are not intended to and do not imply or create any employment, compensation, or contract rights to any person or persons. Management reserves the right to add, delete, or modify any and/or all provisions of this description at any time as needed without notice. This job description supersedes earlier versions.


    I _______________________________ have reviewed the above job description. Date:_________________

    (Employee)



    Job Posted by ApplicantPro
  5. Post your job

    To find the right water system operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with water system operators they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit water system operators who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your water system operator job on Zippia to find and recruit water system operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit water system operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new water system operator

    Once you've decided on a perfect water system operator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a water system operator?

There are different types of costs for hiring water system operators. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new water system operator employee.

Water system operators earn a median yearly salary is $40,831 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find water system operators for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $14 and $25.

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