Water technician vs utility plant operative

The differences between water technicians and utility plant operatives 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 technician and a utility plant operative. Additionally, a utility plant operative has an average salary of $42,253, which is higher than the $38,723 average annual salary of a water technician.

The top three skills for a water technician include customer service, work ethic and hand tools. The most important skills for a utility plant operative are plant equipment, auxiliary equipment, and HVAC.

Water technician vs utility plant operative overview

	Water Technician	Utility Plant Operative
Yearly salary	$38,723	$42,253
Hourly rate	$18.62	$20.31
Growth rate	-7%	-7%
Number of jobs	34,702	19,159
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	Associate Degree, 41%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	12	12

What does a water technician do?

Typically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency. They must also keep records of all operations, producing progress reports as needed. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with co-workers for a smooth workflow.

What does a utility plant operative do?

A 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. They operate and maintain a drainage and sewerage system as well as a neutralized acid waste system. The skills and knowledge they need include electronic control systems, underground cables, and the electrical generating system characteristics. Also, they are expected to know the basics of electrical practice.

Water technician vs utility plant operative salary

Water technicians and utility plant operatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Water Technician	Utility Plant Operative
Average salary	$38,723	$42,253
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $53,000	Between $29,000 And $59,000
Highest paying City	Redmond, WA	Highland, CA
Highest paying state	Idaho	Washington
Best paying company	Vishay	Yale University
Best paying industry	Government	Energy

Differences between water technician and utility plant operative education

There are a few differences between a water technician and a utility plant operative in terms of educational background:

	Water Technician	Utility Plant Operative
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	Associate Degree, 41%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Water technician vs utility plant operative demographics

Here are the differences between water technicians' and utility plant operatives' demographics:

	Water Technician	Utility Plant Operative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8%	Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%	Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between water technician and utility plant operative duties and responsibilities

Water technician example responsibilities.

Manage water usage plumbing repair electronics repair inventory control.
Water extraction, dry outs, roof tarps, board ups, mold clean up, demolition, fire clean up
mow, string trim, blow off.
Climb ladders, crawl, stoop, bend and work in confine spaces.
Use HEPA vac, antimicrobial, possibly sand, wipe studs and walls, and wear PPE.
Have HVAC an carpet cleaning experience.

Utility plant operative example responsibilities.

Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Conduct work in an FDA regulate environment.
Enforce and comply with operational guidelines, OSHA and EPA regulations.
Maintain compliance with state regulators, cGMP, FDA and insurance company.
Last year of employment work include 20 hour each week doing plumbing work exclusively.
Perform some plumbing repairs, minor electrical work, some carpentry, plus general maintenance at plant and offices.

Water technician vs utility plant operative skills

Common water technician skills

Customer Service, 10%
Work Ethic, 7%
Hand Tools, 6%
Water Samples, 6%
Cleanliness, 5%
Plumbing, 5%

Common utility plant operative skills

Plant Equipment, 9%
Auxiliary Equipment, 7%
HVAC, 7%
Plant Operations, 6%
Control Systems, 5%
Cooling Towers, 5%

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Water Technician vs Utility Plant Operative

Updated January 8, 2025

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