NorthStar

Occupations/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.

High school

Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.

AI automation risk

32%

More resilient

Human characteristics

65%

Strong human-characteristic mix

Task orientation

58%

Mixed exposure

A day in this job

  • Mostly routine

    Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.

  • Mostly routine

    Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.

  • Mostly routine

    Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.

The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.

Core tasks

  1. 01Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
  2. 02Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
  3. 03Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
  4. 04Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
  5. 05Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
  6. 06Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.

Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)

  • Repeating same tasks3.71
  • Degree of automation3.04
  • Time sitting2.54
  • Originality (ability)2.00
  • Conflict situations2.54
  • Hands-on objects/tools3.46
  • Outdoors / weather4.65
  • Disease exposure3.29
  • Decision freedom4.12

Top abilities

  • Oral Expression3.75
  • Oral Comprehension3.75
  • Near Vision3.62
  • Written Comprehension3.50
  • Deductive Reasoning3.50
  • Selective Attention3.12
  • Problem Sensitivity3.12
  • Information Ordering3.12

Essential skills

  • Reading Comprehension3.00
  • Active Listening3.12
  • Writing2.75
  • Speaking3.12
  • Mathematics2.88
  • Science2.62
  • Critical Thinking3.00
  • Active Learning2.75
  • Learning Strategies2.75
  • Monitoring3.62

CIP matches

15.0506Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

Schools offering related programs

12 of 16 shown

Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.

InstitutionProgramTuitionAdmitGrad 6-yrEarnings

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$9,20047%84%

1 yr $41,193

2 yr $46,478

Bachelor's · CIP 15.05

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Coon Rapids, MN · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$5,800100%33%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Certificate · CIP 15.05

Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester, MN · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$6,200100%33%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, MN · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$6,200100%38%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$6,100100%36%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Granite Falls, MN · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$6,000100%37%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$10,70086%79%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Master's · CIP 15.05

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$10,40090%77%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$2,900100%41%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Associate · CIP 15.05

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$12,80053%83%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Associate · CIP 15.05

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$19,60055%86%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Post-bacc certificate · CIP 15.05

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

15.0506

$12,00090%69%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Master's · CIP 15.05