Also called: Lithium Plant Operator, DLE Operator
Runs the wells, ponds and chemical plants that pull lithium for EV batteries out of underground salty water.
You check pumps that bring brine up from deep wells, test samples in the lab, and watch the system that grabs lithium out of the water. Some days you are in the Nevada desert, others in an Arkansas plant next to old oil fields. It is a brand-new industry, so you help write the procedures.
Estimated from chemical plant operator wages; this is a new job category.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 2 years after high school. High school plus process operator training; a 2-year process technology degree helps.
Ways in: 2-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Process Technology (2-year), Chemical Technology.
Growing much faster than average. New U.S. lithium projects in Nevada, Arkansas and California are hiring as they open.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. New lithium plants are highly automated but growing fast; operators still run wells and fix equipment.
Classes: Chemistry, Earth science, Algebra 2.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-8091.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.