Water treatment operator vs utility plant operative

The differences between water treatment operators 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 treatment operator and a utility plant operative. Additionally, a water treatment operator has an average salary of $48,112, which is higher than the $42,253 average annual salary of a utility plant operative.

The top three skills for a water treatment operator include water treatment plant, SCADA and water samples. The most important skills for a utility plant operative are plant equipment, auxiliary equipment, and HVAC.

Water treatment operator vs utility plant operative overview

	Water Treatment Operator	Utility Plant Operative
Yearly salary	$48,112	$42,253
Hourly rate	$23.13	$20.31
Growth rate	-7%	-7%
Number of jobs	32,838	19,159
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Associate Degree, 41%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	12	12

What does a water treatment operator do?

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.

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 treatment operator vs utility plant operative salary

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

	Water Treatment Operator	Utility Plant Operative
Average salary	$48,112	$42,253
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $65,000	Between $29,000 And $59,000
Highest paying City	Los Angeles, CA	Highland, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	Washington
Best paying company	Jacobs Engineering Group	Yale University
Best paying industry	Energy	Energy

Differences between water treatment operator and utility plant operative education

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

	Water Treatment Operator	Utility Plant Operative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Associate Degree, 41%
Most common major	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians	Business
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Water treatment operator vs utility plant operative demographics

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

	Water Treatment Operator	Utility Plant Operative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0%	Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5%
Race ratio	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%	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 treatment operator and utility plant operative duties and responsibilities

Water treatment operator example responsibilities.

Manage chemical transfers and plant feed, abiding by OSHA regulations.
Monitor ground water treatment facility through SCADA computer system and data collection and analysis.
Handle blowers, thickeners, SBR's, effluent and influent pumps, and sludge blanket judges.
Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair all instrumentation.
Complete necessary math equations and paperwork for plant records.
Inventory on PPE supplies, solvents, and chemicals.

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 treatment operator vs utility plant operative skills

Common water treatment operator skills

Water Treatment Plant, 8%
SCADA, 6%
Water Samples, 5%
Plant Equipment, 4%
Process Control, 4%
Water Quality, 4%

Common utility plant operative skills

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

Water Treatment Operator vs. similar jobs

Water Treatment Operator related careers

Water Treatment Operator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Production and Manufacturing Industry
Water Treatment Operator
Water Treatment Operator vs Utility Plant Operative

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs