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.
How to read this profile
BLS projects U.S. employment for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators to decrease by -5.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 131,000 to 123,500 jobs. Its estimate of 10,000 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($60,020), education (High school diploma or equivalent), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.
Base employment (2024)
131,000
Projected employment (2034)
123,500
Projected change (2024–2034)
-6%
Annual openings (projected average)
10,000
Pay & Preparation
$60,020
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
Essential Skills
Operation and Control (4/5) • Operations Monitoring (3.88/5) • Monitoring (3.62/5) • Active Listening (3.12/5) • Equipment Maintenance (3.12/5) • Troubleshooting (3.12/5)
O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.
BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.
Market data tells you what is happening.
SmartBid shows you where you fit.
Evaluate opportunities using demand, competition, client quality, and your experience—then focus your effort where you have the strongest chance to win.
Find my best opportunities