Water/Wastewater Engineers Career, Salary and Skills
Water/Wastewater Engineers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $100,840 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 367,840. Wage data is published for 426 locations.
Occupation description
Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.
O*NET code
17-2051.02
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$100,840
Hourly median
$48.48
Employment
367,840
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Mathematics | 3.88 | 4.50 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.75 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 3.75 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems.
- Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings.
- Evaluate the operation and maintenance of water or wastewater systems to identify ways to improve their efficiency.
- Design or select equipment for use in wastewater processing to ensure compliance with government standards.
- Design pumping systems, pumping stations, pipelines, force mains, or sewers for the collection of wastewater.
- Design water distribution systems for potable or non-potable water.
- Conduct water quality studies to identify and characterize water pollutant sources.
- Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel.
Technology
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Autodesk Revit
- Bash
- Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering Suite
- Bentley InRoads Suite
- Bentley MicroStation
- Bentley SewerCAD
- Bentley StormCAD
- Bentley WaterCAD
- Business software applications
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- DHI MIKE URBAN
Water/Wastewater Engineers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in CAMedian $122,500 · Employment 55,180
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in TXMedian $96,860 · Employment 34,870
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in FLMedian $98,570 · Employment 23,750
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in NYMedian $103,760 · Employment 17,500
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $108,640 · Employment 16,340
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in PAMedian $97,850 · Employment 15,870
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in New York, NYMedian $107,330 · Employment 15,590
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in ILMedian $99,760 · Employment 13,910
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in COMedian $101,420 · Employment 13,290
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in NCMedian $100,730 · Employment 12,810
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in WAMedian $110,000 · Employment 12,590
- Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary in Houston, TXMedian $100,950 · Employment 12,140
Related careers
- Hydroelectric Plant TechniciansNational median $102,040
- Hydroelectric Production ManagersNational median $126,060
- Environmental Restoration PlannersNational median $82,220
- Industrial EcologistsNational median $82,220
- Conservation ScientistsNational median $73,010
- HydrologistsNational median $96,600
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $59,920
- Geothermal Production ManagersNational median $126,060
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.