Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater. The role reports a median annual salary of $58,260 in the US and is projected to decline by 6% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.49 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £39,690 a year for Water and sewerage plant operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £31,577 to £46,183 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8134). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
What you'd actually do
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators do?
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
How much does Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn?
The median annual salary for Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the US is $58,260.
What is the job outlook for Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
The role is projected to decline by 6% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 132,400 workers.
How do I become water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Our AI-durability model gives Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators a score of 0.49 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.