Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Water or Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators need long-term on-the-job
Education
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. High school students may benefit from taking classes in subjects such as biology, chemistry, and math. Employers may prefer applicants who have completed a certificate, an associate’s, or a bachelor’s degree program in a related field such as environmental science or wastewater treatment technology. Training Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators need long-term on-the-job training to become fully qualified. Trainees learn their skills on the job under the direction of an experienced operator. The trainees learn by observing and doing routine tasks, such as recording meter readings, taking samples of wastewater and sludge, and performing simple maintenance and repair work on plant equipment. They also learn about industrial safety and how to use personal protective equipment. Some water and wastewater treatment plants combine on-the-job training with formal classroom or self-paced study programs. As plants get more complicated, operators need more skills before they are allowed to work without supervision.
Training
to become fully qualified. 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.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically require a state license; however, entry-level workers often complete their licensing requirements during on-the-job training. Requirements and standards vary widely depending on the state. State licenses typically have multiple levels, which indicate the operator’s experience and training. Although some states will honor licenses from other states, operators who move from one state to another may need to take a new set of exams to become licensed in their new state. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. Some workers choose to earn professional certification, which may help to demonstrate competency in the field. Other Experience Prospective workers may benefit from gaining experience in maintenance and repair, which can help them learn how to perform mechanical maintenance on equipment commonly used in water and wastewater treatment plants and systems. Advancement Most states have multiple levels of licenses for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators. Each increase in license level allows the operator to perform more complicated processes without supervision. At the largest plants, operators who have the highest license level work as shift supervisors and may oversee large teams of operators.
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline. About 10,000 openings for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment As water and wastewater treatment plants become more advanced with automated systems to manage treatment processes, fewer workers may be needed. Although some work can be automated, plants will still need skilled workers to operate increasingly complex controls and water and wastewater systems. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Total, all occupations 3% Plant and system operators -4% Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators -6% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Do
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines, often through the use of computerized systems, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Duties
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically do the following:
- Add chemicals, such as chlorine, to disinfect water or other liquids
- Inspect equipment on a regular basis
- Monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges
- Collect and test water and sewage samples
- Record meter and gauge readings and operational data
- Document and report test results to regulatory agencies
- Operate equipment to purify and clarify water or to process or dispose of sewage
- Clean and maintain equipment, tanks, filter beds, and other work areas
- Follow environmental regulations
- Ensure safety standards are met
It takes many steps to get water from natural sources—reservoirs, streams, and groundwater—into people’s houses. Similarly, it is a complicated process to convert the wastewater from drains and sewers into a form that is safe to release into the environment.
The specific duties of plant operators depend on the type and size of the plant. In a small plant, one operator may be responsible for maintaining all the systems. In large plants, multiple operators work the same shifts and are more specialized in their duties, often relying on computerized systems to help them monitor plant processes.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators must be able to manually operate the equipment if there is a plant malfunction caused by power outages or electrical issues. Occasionally, operators must work during emergencies. For example, they may need to work during weather conditions that cause large amounts of storm water or wastewater to flow into sewers, exceeding a plant’s capacity. Emergencies also may be caused by malfunctions within a plant, such as chemical leaks or oxygen deficiencies.
Water treatment plant and system operators work in water treatment plants. Fresh water is pumped from wells, rivers, streams, or reservoirs to water treatment plants, where it is treated and distributed to customers. Water treatment plant and system operators run the equipment, control the processes, and monitor the plants that treat water to make it safe to drink.
Wastewater treatment plant and system operators remove pollutants from domestic and industrial waste. Used water, also known as wastewater, travels through sewer pipes to treatment plants, where it is treated and either returned to streams, rivers, and oceans, or used for irrigation.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators held about 131,000 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 74% |
| Utilities | 14 |
| Manufacturing | 4 |
| Waste management and remediation services | 2 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 1 |
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work both indoors and outdoors. Their work often involves performing physically demanding tasks and may require working in locations that are difficult to access. Operators may be exposed to noise from machinery and are often exposed to unpleasant odors.
Injuries and Illnesses
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators must pay close attention to safety procedures. Hazardous conditions might include slippery walkways, the presence of dangerous gases, and malfunctioning equipment.
Operators are trained in emergency management procedures and use safety equipment to protect their health, as well as that of the public. For example, these workers may need to wear gloves, safety glasses, and respirators to reduce their risk of exposure to harmful substances.
Work Schedules
Most water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work full time. Plants operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Rotating shifts, including days, nights, and weekends, are common. Workers may need to be on call in case of emergencies.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Critical and analytical thinking skills. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators must conduct tests and inspections on water or wastewater and evaluate the results. Computer skills. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators often need to use computerized systems to help monitor plant processes. Detail oriented. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators must monitor machinery, gauges, dials, and controls to ensure everything is operating properly. Because tap water and wastewater are highly regulated, operators must be careful and thorough in completing these tasks. Math skills. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators must have the ability to apply data to formulas that determine treatment requirements, flow levels, and concentration levels. Mechanical skills. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators must know how to work with machines and use tools. They must be familiar with how to operate, repair, and maintain equipment. Problem-solving skills. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators must find and troubleshoot problems that arise with equipment or controls.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.