Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Career, Salary and Skills
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $60,020 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 128,490. Wage data is published for 419 locations.
Occupation description
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
O*NET code
51-8031.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$60,020
Hourly median
$28.86
Employment
128,490
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$39,110
10th
$48,040
25th
$60,020
Median
$74,780
75th
$91,060
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.00 | 3.38 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Repairing | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical 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.
Technology
- Data logging software
- Database software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Human machine interface HMI software
- Material safety data sheet MSDS software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Operational Data Store ODS software
- Records management software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Timekeeping software
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in CAMedian $81,770 · Employment 11,630
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in TXMedian $49,460 · Employment 10,520
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in FLMedian $59,030 · Employment 7,440
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in OHMedian $59,170 · Employment 5,870
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in NYMedian $63,990 · Employment 5,300
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in PAMedian $63,310 · Employment 4,660
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in AZMedian $61,340 · Employment 3,950
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in New York, NYMedian $83,320 · Employment 3,690
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in NCMedian $51,680 · Employment 3,620
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in ILMedian $67,810 · Employment 3,500
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in VAMedian $59,420 · Employment 3,460
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in MIMedian $59,270 · Employment 3,400
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.