How to become a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator
Official title: Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Also called: Plant Operator, Process Operator (Process Op), Relief Operator, Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator), Wastewater Operator (WW Operator), Wastewater Technician (Wastewater Tech), Water Control Dispatcher, Water Plant Operator, Water Treatment Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Main tasks
- 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.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
How to become one
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. They also complete on-the-job training. A state license is usually required; however, entry-level workers often complete their licensing requirements during on-the-job training.
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Waste Treatment Operator.
- Apprenticeship: Wastewater Systems Operator.
- Apprenticeship: Water Treatment Plant Operator.
- Licence: A licence is required in 40 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $60,020 a year The middle half earn $48,040 to $74,780.
- About 131,000 people work in this job now, and about 123,500 are projected by 2035. (-5.7%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Related jobs
- Gas Plant Operators
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers
- Power Plant Operators
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator?
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. They also complete on-the-job training. A state license is usually required; however, entry-level workers often complete their licensing requirements during on-the-job training.
How much does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $60,020 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $48,040 to $74,780.
Is a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator a growing career in the US?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 131,000 to about 123,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator?
Usually not. Only 15% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Waste Treatment Operator.
Will AI change the work of a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.