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The differences between water treatment technicians and 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 technician and a plant operator. Additionally, a water treatment technician has an average salary of $44,399, which is higher than the $42,697 average annual salary of a plant operator.
The top three skills for a water treatment technician include PPE, water samples and waste water. The most important skills for a plant operator are plant equipment, plant operations, and preventative maintenance.
| Water Treatment Technician | Plant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $44,399 | $42,697 |
| Hourly rate | $21.35 | $20.53 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 16,677 | 43,388 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Water treatment technicians work every day in observing agricultural plant functions, which includes obtaining the daily requirements and making suitable adjustments to satisfy those demands. They carefully implement process sampling to exactly gauge and keep track of levels. Also, they perform strictly with adjoining farming operations to form sure land implementation of treated wastewater is manageable. Additionally, they work with the operating management within the establishment and assist with the maintenance of environmental compliance procedures. Other duties include assisting them in transcribing and implementing technical regulatory obligations.
A plant operator's primary role is to supervise and oversee operations in an industrial setting. They are responsible for controlling machinery and equipment, coordinating with fellow officers, monitoring the quality of progress among a particular unit or department, and maintaining daily operations records. A plant operator may also respond to inquiries and issues, perform basic troubleshooting, and provide corrective measures. Furthermore, a plant operator must conduct regular inspection and maintenance to ensure a safe work environment for everyone, all while implementing the plant's safety policies and regulations.
Water treatment technicians and plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Treatment Technician | Plant Operator | |
| Average salary | $44,399 | $42,697 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $67,000 | Between $32,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Idaho |
| Best paying company | Vicor | NW Natural |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a water treatment technician and a plant operator in terms of educational background:
| Water Treatment Technician | Plant Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
Here are the differences between water treatment technicians' and plant operators' demographics:
| Water Treatment Technician | Plant Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3% | 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, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |