Quick Facts: Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
| 2021 Median Pay | $47,880 per year $23.02 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation | None |
| On-the-job Training | Long-term on-the-job training |
How much does a water treatment operator make?
10 rows · average. hourly wage. $30.1k Bottom 20%. $47.9k Median. $77.2k Top 20%. Water treatment plant ...
What is the salary of a water treatment plant operator?
Water treatment plant operator salary The average salary for water treatment plant operators in the United States is around $47,880 per year. Salaries typically start from $30,070 and go up … Read about Water treatment plant operator salary
How to get a job as a water operator?
6 rows · How much does a Water Treatment Operator make in the United States? The average Water ...
How to become a water plant operator?
· How much do water treatment operators get paid? The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median water operator salary in 2018 was $46,780. The average starting salary for a new operator with no experience was around $28,300, while the average for a very experienced operator was $76,200.
Where do wastewater operators make the most money?
Highest paying cities for Wastewater Operators in United StatesLos Angeles, CA. $26.46 per hour. 9 salaries reported.Houston, TX. $24.66 per hour. 5 salaries reported.Phoenix, AZ. $24.58 per hour. 7 salaries reported.Tacoma, WA. $24.46 per hour. 9 salaries reported.Columbia, SC. $22.96 per hour. ... Show more nearby cities.
What are some pros of being a wastewater treatment plant operator?
There are many benefits to becoming a wastewater operator, which includes:Job security. ... Various work environments. ... It's a long-lasting career. ... The pay is good. ... It's a growing industry. ... Specialized training & certification. ... It's beneficial to the environment and the community.
How much does a wastewater treatment plant operator make in Canada?
How much does a Water treatment plant operator make in Canada? The average water treatment plant operator salary in Canada is $61,620 per year or $31.60 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $58,383 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $75,763 per year.
What does a wastewater treatment plant do?
A waste water treatment plant cleans sewage and water so that they can be returned to the environment. These plants remove solids and pollutants, break down organic matter and restore the oxygen content of treated water.
Is water treatment a good career?
No matter what position you are in it is a great career to open your views to how a large number of fields combine to create one product. Since the process is slower you really get a chance to learn something and watch it work in real time which helps you understand it. It is also very hands on.
What makes you want to work in the water industry?
With the availability of jobs, water and wastewater operations and management companies also offer attractive starting pay and benefits, like health insurance and 401ks, to entice great candidates.
What are the 5 stages of water treatment?
The 5 major unit processes include chemical coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection (described below). There are chemicals added to the water as it enters the various treatment processes.
What are the 3 stages of wastewater treatment?
There are three main stages of the wastewater treatment process, aptly known as primary, secondary and tertiary water treatment. In some applications, more advanced treatment is required, known as quaternary water treatment.
What are the 4 steps of water treatment?
4 Steps of Community Water TreatmentCoagulation and Flocculation. ... Sedimentation. ... Filtration. ... Disinfection.
How much does a water treatment operator make?
An entry-level Water Treatment Operator with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $15.99 based on 63 salaries. An early career Water Treatment Operator with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $17.90 based on 513 …Read more
What are the duties of a water treatment operator?
What Do Water Treatment Operators Do? 1 Maintain water testing and treatment plant equipment. 2 Maintains documentation and records of plant operations and data. 3 Collect, test, and analyze water samples. 4 Operate wells and chemical feed systems, and oversee store tank levels to ensure compliance with regulations.
What is the satisfaction rating of a water treatment operator?
Based on 315 responses, the job of Water Treatment Operator has received a job satisfaction rating of 3.94 out of 5. On average, Water Treatment Operator s are highly satisfied with their job.
What is water treatment?
Water treatment operators help ensure that residents within a proscribed area have access to clean and safe water. Broadly, water treatment operators ensure that water treatment plants produce a supply of water that meets the requirements of federal and municipal legislation in accordance with applicable standards and policies.
What is wastewater operator?
Operators are trained in emergency management procedures and use safety equipment to protect their health, as well as that of the public. Wastewater treatment plant and system operators do similar work to remove pollutants from domestic and industrial waste. Used water, also known as wastewater, travels through sewage pipes to treatment plants ...
How to operate a water treatment plant?
Water treatment plant operators typically do the following: 1 Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect water or other liquids 2 Inspect equipment on a regular basis 3 Monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges 4 Collect and test water and sewage samples 5 Record meter and gauge readings, and operational data 6 Operate equipment to purify and clarify water, or to process or dispose of sewage 7 Clean and maintain equipment, tanks, filter beds, and other work areas 8 Stay current on environmental laws and regulations 9 Ensure safety standards are met
What do water treatment plants use?
Water treatment plant operators typically do the following: Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, 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.
How many hours a day do plant operators work?
Plants operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In small plants, operators are likely to work during the day and be on call nights and weekends. In medium and large sized plants that require constant monitoring, operators work in shifts to control the plant at all hours.
Why do operators have to pay close attention to safety procedures?
They must pay close attention to safety procedures because of hazardous conditions, such as slippery walkways, dangerous gases, and malfunctioning equipment.
What causes large amounts of storm water to flow into sewers?
For example, weather conditions may 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.
What do sewage workers do?
Many others work for water, sewage, and other systems utilities and for waste treatment and disposal services. They work both indoors and outdoors. They may be exposed to noise from machinery and are often exposed to unpleasant odours.
How much does a water treatment operator make?
How much does a Water Treatment Operator make in the United States? The average Water Treatment Operator salary in the United States is $46,749 as of October 29, 2021, but the salary range typically falls between $38,924 and $55,332. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
What is the job of a plant maintenance technician in 2021?
February 13, 2021. Trains and instructs staff in plant maintenance and operation activities and ensures use of proper safety equipment and procedures. March 29, 2021. Submit Other Responsibilities.
What is the job of lead operating engineer?
The Job As Lead Operating Engineer you will be responsible for the HVAC system and all mechanical ... Supervise and monitor the chiller, maintenance, emergency generator, water treatment, roofing, and ...
How much does a water treatment operator make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median water operator salary in 2018 was $46,780. The average starting salary for a new operator with no experience was around $28,300, while the average for a very experienced operator was $76,200. The amount an operator will get paid obviously depends on their level of experience, the size and complexity of the water system, and the geographic region. Some entry level water treatment operator positions in the San Francisco bay area start at $74,232 and increases to $121,536 with greater experience and responsibility.
What do water treatment operators need to do?
Operators need to collect samples throughout the distribution to test for chlorine residual levels, coliform testing, and disinfection byproduct levels, amongst others. Operators must also visit the water sources of the system to record operating conditions. This could include reservoirs, surface water intakes, and wells.
What does it mean when a water treatment operator is a problem solver?
Inevitably, these components will break. When this happens, operators must quickly diagnose the problem and fix it. As mentioned in the introduction, operators really are on the frontlines of protecting the public health. An operator that can quickly diagnose and make a repair could mean the difference of the system running out of clean water or not.
What is the role of a water treatment plant operator?
They are on the frontlines of protecting public health by ensuring that the water that is delivered to their customers is safe and wholesome. To accomplish this they use a skill set that includes critical thinking, mechanical ability, mathematics, and problem solving.
How many operators are needed for a III treatment plant?
So a treatment plant classified as a III must employ at least one operator with a III classification. The higher the operator’s grade, the more experience they have operating plants with more complex treatment and water quality issues.
How many different grades are there in water treatment?
Each state has slightly different ways that they breakdown the different operator grades. Most states have somewhere from four to five different grades. This is because each treatment plant is classified on factors including the types of treatment processes used, which disinfectant is used, and raw water quality. The treatment plant will be classified from I to IV (or V) based on these factors.
How much does a water treatment operator make?
Water Treatment Operators in America make an average salary of $41,243 per year or $20 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $57,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $29,000 per year.
How many degrees do you need to be a water treatment operator?
If you're interested in becoming a water treatment operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 34.5% of water treatment operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 2.5% of water treatment operators have master's degrees. Even though some water treatment operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
What skills do water treatment operators need?
We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, detail oriented and math skills.
How many operators are in a facility?
Supervised twelve (12) operators in the operation and maintenance of the facility.
What are the best states to work in water treatment?
The best states for people in this position are Washington, California, Idaho, and Kansas. Water treatment operators make the most in Washington with an average salary of $72,658. Whereas in California and Idaho, they would average $71,350 and $59,746, respectively. While water treatment operators would only make an average of $57,427 in Kansas, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
What materials are needed for waste water treatment?
Order materials needed for the waste water treatment process including sulfuric acid, caustic sodium, and other chemicals.
Water Treatment Operator
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Average Total Hourly Cash Compensation
These charts show the average hourly wage (core compensation), as well as the average total hourly cash compensation for the job of Water Treatment Operator in the United States. The average hourly rate for Water Treatment Operator ranges from $19 to $27 with the average hourly pay of $23.
How much should you be paid?
For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.
How to become a water treatment plant operator?
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent and a license to work. They also complete on-the-job training.
What are the duties of a water treatment plant?
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically do the following: Add chemicals, such as ammonia or chlorine, to disinfect water or other liquids.
Why do operators need to work during emergencies?
Emergencies also may be caused by malfunctions within a plant, such as chemical leaks or oxygen deficiencies.
How much will the water industry decline in 2020?
Employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is projected to decline 3 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Why do water treatment plants have to be careful?
They must pay close attention to safety procedures because of hazardous conditions, such as slippery walkways, the presence of dangerous gases, and malfunctioning equipment.
Why do water treatment plants have to manually operate?
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators must be able to manually operate the equipment if there is a plant malfunction due to power outages or electrical issues.
Where does wastewater go?
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. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators often perform physically demanding tasks.
How to become a certified operator?
Requirements for operator certification are specified by the state. Each state has the authority to develop their own requirements for operator certification. The guidelines required that states must require the following for an operator to become certified: 1 Take and pass an exam that demonstrates that the operator has the necessary skills, knowledge, ability, and judgement as appropriate for the classification. 2 Have a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED). States may allow experience and/or relevant training to be substituted for a high school diploma or GED. 3 Have the defined minimum amount of on-the-job experience for each appropriate level of certification. The amount of experience required increases with each classification level. Post high school education may be substituted for experience. Credit may be given for experience in a related field (e.g., wastewater). 4 The state must establish training requirements for renewal based on the level of certification held by the operator. States must require all operators including grandparented operators to acquire necessary amounts and types of state approved training. States may determine other requirements as deemed necessary. States must have a fixed cycle of renewal not to exceed three years.
What are the requirements for operator certification?
Education and Training. Requirements for operator certification are specified by the state. Each state has the authority to develop their own requirements for operator certification. The guidelines required that states must require the following for an operator to become certified: Take and pass an exam that demonstrates ...
How long does a grandparent operator have to renew license?
States may determine other requirements as deemed necessary. States must have a fixed cycle of renewal not to exceed three years.
