Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between water treatment operators and water plant 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 treatment operator and a water plant operator. Additionally, a water treatment operator has an average salary of $48,112, which is higher than the $45,853 average annual salary of a water plant operator.
The top three skills for a water treatment operator include water treatment plant, SCADA and water samples. The most important skills for a water plant operator are water treatment plant, plant equipment, and water samples.
| Water Treatment Operator | Water Plant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $48,112 | $45,853 |
| Hourly rate | $23.13 | $22.04 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 32,838 | 39,348 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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 Plant Operators are responsible for managing and monitoring the processes of a water treatment plant. Their duties include operating treatment plants and apparatus, cleaning screens and filters, adding chemicals, monitoring gas and water levels, taking reading as well as inspecting wastewater and water samples. They are responsible for interpreting sample analysis results, resolving technical faults from gathered data as well as organizing general maintenance and repair work. Water Plant Operators also assess chemical stock levels, hazardous conditions, and risks during their day to day work.
Water treatment operators and water plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Treatment Operator | Water Plant Operator | |
| Average salary | $48,112 | $45,853 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $32,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Stockton, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Santa Clara Valley Water District |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a water treatment operator and a water plant operator in terms of educational background:
| Water Treatment Operator | Water Plant Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
Here are the differences between water treatment operators' and water plant operators' demographics:
| Water Treatment Operator | Water Plant Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |