Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators run and oversee systems that handle water and wastewater. Nationally, this occupation employs about 132,000 people, indicating a sizable workforce. The national median annual salary of $58,260 offers a solid earning base, with some states and metro areas paying significantly more. While projected employment growth is -6.5%, there are still an estimated 11,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. The role draws on a mix of science, mechanical aptitude, mathematics, and problem solving, combined with detail orientation and physical strength and stamina. It can appeal to people who like working with systems, equipment, and data while also using critical and analytical thinking. Workers who build strong project management and computer and information technology skills may be positioned for broader responsibilities. For those exploring alternatives, related career paths include plant and system operators (all other), gas plant operators, chemical equipment operators and tenders, stationary engineers and boiler operators, and mechanical engineering technologists and technicians.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn a national median annual salary of $58,260, but pay varies notably by location. Certain states stand out with higher median salaries, including California at $81,770, Washington at $80,800, and Colorado at $74,200. Massachusetts and New York also offer median salaries above the national level at $68,550 and $63,990 respectively. Among metro areas, earning potential can be even higher. The San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro reports a median salary of $125,160, and San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA reports $108,190. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro offers a median of $83,320, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH are at $73,600 and $73,330. These figures highlight that geographic choice can significantly influence earning potential within this occupation.
This occupation has national employment of about 132,000 workers, showing a substantial number of positions across the country. Projected employment growth is -6.5%, indicating that overall employment is expected to decline. However, there are still projected to be about 11,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that even as total employment shrinks, there will be recurring opportunities due to factors such as turnover or replacement needs, though the specific reasons are not detailed. For job seekers and career changers, the negative growth rate means that competition for some roles may be stronger in the future, making skills and geographic flexibility potentially important. At the same time, the consistent flow of annual openings indicates that people entering the field can still find opportunities, especially if they target locations with higher CareerGPS opportunity scores or larger employment bases within this occupation.
Location has a major impact on both pay levels and overall opportunity for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators. Among states, California has the highest listed median salary at $81,770 and the largest employment at 11,630, with an opportunity score of 67.38. Washington and Colorado also show relatively high median salaries of $80,800 and $74,200 and opportunity scores in the mid‑50s. Massachusetts and New York feature median salaries of $68,550 and $63,990, with opportunity scores just above 65, indicating strong combined conditions based on CareerGPS’s measure. At the metro level, differences are even more pronounced. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA stands out with a median salary of $125,160, while San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA is at $108,190 and carries the highest opportunity score of 77.42. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro combines a median salary of $83,320 with a similar opportunity score of 77.27. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH offer mid‑$70k median salaries and opportunity scores in the low‑to‑mid 60s.
The typical education requirement for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is a high school diploma or equivalent. Beyond this baseline, success in the role is closely tied to a defined skill mix rather than advanced formal education. Key skills include science and mathematics, which support understanding and monitoring of systems, along with mechanical skills and fine motor abilities for working with equipment. Being detail oriented is important for carefully following procedures, while problem solving and decision making help address issues as they arise. Physical strength and stamina are also highlighted, reflecting the demands of the work environment. Project management skills can support organizing tasks and timelines, and computers and information technology skills are important for working with modern systems and data. Critical and analytical thinking ties these abilities together, helping operators interpret information and choose appropriate actions within their responsibilities.
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