Jobs / Physical work / 51-8031.00

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.

US jobs
128,490
Median wage
$60,020 a year
Job family
Physical work

Can agents do the work of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Physical work:

  • Task levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.
  • Project levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.

Unexplored territory

No benchmark in this atlas covers this work yet.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
  • Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
  • Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
  • Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
  • Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
  • Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
  • Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
Other job titles for this occupation (58)

Plant Operator · Process Operator (Process Op) · Relief Operator · Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator) · Wastewater Operator (WW Operator) · Wastewater Technician (Wastewater Tech) · Water Control Dispatcher · Water Plant Operator · Water Treatment Operator · Water Treatment Plant Operator · Basin Tender · Biosolids Management Technician (Biosolids Management Tech) · Clarifying Plant Operator · Disposal Operator · Disposal Plant Operator · Drinking Water Technician (Drinking Water Tech) · Filter Tender · Filterer · Filtration Operator · Filtration Plant Operator · Industrial Waste Treatment Technician (Industrial Waste Treatment Tech) · Liquid Waste Treatment Plant Operator · On-Site Wastewater Systems Technician (On-Site Wastewater Systems Tech) · Purification Operator · SCADA Operator (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Operator) · Sewage Plant Operator · Sewage Treatment Plant Operator · Sewer Operator · Treatment Plant Operator · Treatment Specialist · Utility Operator · Utility Worker · Waste Disposal Plant Operator · Waste Treatment Operator · Waste Water Operator · Waste Water Technician (Waste Water Tech) · Wastewater Plant Operator · Wastewater Treatment Operator · Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator) · Water Distribution Operator · Water Engineer · Water Filterer · Water Filtration Technician (Water Filtration Tech) · Water Operator · Water Pump Operator · Water Pumper · Water Purifier Operator · Water Quality Technician (Water Quality Tech) · Water Reclamation Systems Operator · Water Supply Technician (Water Supply Tech) · Water System Operator · Water Technician (Water Tech) · Water Treatment Specialist · Water Treatment Technician (Water Treatment Tech) · Watershed Tender · Waterworks Employee · Waterworks Operator · Waterworks Pump Station Operator