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The differences between water technicians 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 technician and a wastewater treatment operator. Additionally, a wastewater treatment operator has an average salary of $45,618, 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 wastewater treatment operator are plant equipment, process control, and blowers.
| Water Technician | Wastewater Treatment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $38,723 | $45,618 |
| Hourly rate | $18.62 | $21.93 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 34,702 | 32,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A wastewater treatment operator is responsible for overseeing the daily operations in water treatment plans, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their duties include coordinating with different staff, operating controls and systems, gathering water samples, maintaining the cleanliness of all areas and equipment, and monitoring the progress of all operations. They must also keep accurate records of data, reporting progress to managers or supervisors. Furthermore, as a wastewater treatment operator, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Water technicians and wastewater treatment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Technician | Wastewater Treatment Operator | |
| Average salary | $38,723 | $45,618 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $32,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redmond, WA | Mercer Island, WA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Idaho |
| Best paying company | Vishay | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Government | Professional |
There are a few differences between a water technician and a wastewater treatment operator in terms of educational background:
| Water Technician | Wastewater Treatment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between water technicians' and wastewater treatment operators' demographics:
| Water Technician | Wastewater Treatment Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |