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Job outlook for water treatment specialists in the United States
Water treatment specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected water treatment specialist job growth rate is -7% from 2018-2028.
About -8,600 new jobs for water treatment specialists are projected over the next decade.
Water treatment specialist salaries have increased 7% for water treatment specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,113 water treatment specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 10,970 active water treatment specialist job openings in the US.
The average water treatment specialist salary is $52,749.
Are water treatment specialist jobs in demand?
Water treatment specialist job and salary trends over time
Water treatment specialist jobs over time
Water treatment specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,113 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,053 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,201 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,198 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,987 | 0.00% |
Average water treatment specialist salary over time
Water treatment specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,749 | $25.36 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $51,320 | $24.67 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $50,267 | $24.17 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $49,590 | $23.84 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $49,171 | $23.64 | +2.2% |
Water treatment specialist jobs by state
Most common states for water treatment specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 67 | 10% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 50 | 9% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 250 | 8% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 60 | 8% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 74 | 7% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 71 | 7% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 54 | 7% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 45 | 7% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 116 | 6% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 53 | 6% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 471 | 5% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 448 | 5% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 379 | 5% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 367 | 5% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 252 | 5% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 211 | 5% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 87 | 5% |
| 18 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 85 | 5% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 72 | 5% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 49 | 5% |
Most common cities for water treatment specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gadsden | 1 | 3% | $40,939 |
| 2 | Hollister | 1 | 3% | $81,729 |
| 3 | Bentonville | 1 | 2% | $33,231 |
| 4 | Dubuque | 1 | 2% | $51,531 |
| 5 | Houston | 2 | 0% | $37,259 |
| 6 | Philadelphia | 2 | 0% | $53,832 |
| 7 | San Antonio | 2 | 0% | $38,002 |
| 8 | Fort Worth | 1 | 0% | $34,976 |
| 9 | Fresno | 1 | 0% | $79,863 |
Water Treatment Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of water treatment specialist experts
Water Environment Federation
Lake Carriers’ Association
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Water Treatment Specialists to find work opportunities?
Steve Harrison: We expect the job outlook for water quality operators to remain steady in all regions, despite the pandemic. There will always be a need for clean water and sanitation services, and safe water is the most important resource in every community. It is essential to public health and plays a vital role in maintaining hygiene. The sector also contributes to fighting COVID, as more municipalities rely on wastewater sampling to track and even predict outbreaks.
What type of skills will young Water Treatment Specialists need?
Steve Harrison: Virtually any STEM skills are relevant and valuable. Good water quality operators will have an aptitude for subjects that include applied mathematics, instrumentation technology, electronics, geographic information systems, and data analytics and artificial intelligence. Relentless curiosity would be useful too.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Water Treatment Specialists?
Eric Peace: No. Maritime workers are considered "essential." There will always be a need for ships to economically move cargoes.