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The differences between water technicians and water 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 water treatment operator. Additionally, a water treatment operator has an average salary of $48,112, 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 water treatment operator are water treatment plant, SCADA, and water samples.
| Water Technician | Water Treatment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $38,723 | $48,112 |
| Hourly rate | $18.62 | $23.13 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 34,702 | 32,838 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| 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 water treatment operator oversees the daily operations at water treatment plants, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Among their responsibilities include operating machines and equipment, collecting and testing water samples, maintaining records of meter and gauge readings, and adding chemicals according to protocols. They must also keep the cleanliness of facilities, monitor the meters and gauges, and perform equipment adjustments when necessary. Moreover, a water treatment operator must adhere to safety policies and government regulations and conduct inspections to ensure compliance in other areas.
Water technicians and water treatment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Technician | Water Treatment Operator | |
| Average salary | $38,723 | $48,112 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $35,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redmond, WA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Washington |
| Best paying company | Vishay | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | Government | Energy |
There are a few differences between a water technician and a water treatment operator in terms of educational background:
| Water Technician | Water Treatment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between water technicians' and water treatment operators' demographics:
| Water Technician | Water 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, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |