Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2051.02
Water/Wastewater Engineers
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.
- US jobs
- 367,840 (SOC 17-2051 group, "Civil Engineers")
- Median wage
- $100,840 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of water/wastewater engineers?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Architecture and engineering: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: HWE-Bench, 79.9% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: Parametric CAD Bench V3, 9% of tasks fully completed (Perfect tasks).
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark (figures for the SOC 17-2051 group).
- 12%Design structures or facilitiesNot measured
- 8%Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical dataNot measured
- 6%Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activitiesNot measured
- 5%Inspect facilities or equipmentNot measured
- 4%Advise others on business or operational mattersNot measured
- 4%Estimate project development or operational costsNot measured
- 4%Create visual designs or displaysNot measured
- 4%Plan work activitiesNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 61%Claude Opus 5.5 (max) with Claude Code 2.1.280 · 24 Sep 2026Strong
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 64.8%Claude Code + Opus 5.5 (max) · 6 Oct 2026Strong
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel.
- 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.
- Analyze and recommend chemical, biological, or other wastewater treatment methods to prepare water for industrial or domestic use.
- Identify design alternatives for the development of new water resources.
- Design water runoff collection networks, water supply channels, or water supply system networks.
- Design water or wastewater lift stations, including water wells.
Other job titles for this occupation (23)
Consulting Engineer · County Engineer · Engineer · Project Development Engineer · Dimensional Engineer · Hydraulics Engineer · Hydrologic Modeler · Remediation Engineer · Remediation Project Engineer · Wastewater Design Engineer · Wastewater Engineer · Wastewater Process Engineer · Wastewater Project Engineer · Water Engineer · Water Project Engineer · Water Resources Engineer · Water Resources Project Engineer · Water Systems Designer · Water Systems Engineer · Water Treatment Engineer · Water/Wastewater Engineer · Water/Wastewater Project Engineer · Watershed Engineer