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The differences between water treatment technicians and wastewater 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 wastewater plant operator. Additionally, a wastewater plant operator has an average salary of $45,658, which is higher than the $44,399 average annual salary of a water treatment technician.
The top three skills for a water treatment technician include PPE, water samples and waste water. The most important skills for a wastewater plant operator are minor maintenance, plant operations, and plant equipment.
| Water Treatment Technician | Wastewater Plant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $44,399 | $45,658 |
| Hourly rate | $21.35 | $21.95 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 16,677 | 38,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Water treatment technicians and wastewater plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Treatment Technician | Wastewater Plant Operator | |
| Average salary | $44,399 | $45,658 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $67,000 | Between $32,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Redding, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Vicor | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a water treatment technician and a wastewater plant operator in terms of educational background:
| Water Treatment Technician | Wastewater Plant Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between water treatment technicians' and wastewater plant operators' demographics:
| Water Treatment Technician | Wastewater Plant Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% |
| 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, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |