Also called: Plant Operator, Wastewater Operator, Water System Operator
Runs the plants that turn river water into safe drinking water and clean sewage before it returns to nature.
You make rounds checking pumps, filters, and tanks, take water samples, and adjust chemicals from a control room full of screens. Plants run 24/7, so you work shifts. When a storm hits, you keep the system from overflowing.
Higher certification grades bring higher pay.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. High school plus state operator certification (grades I-IV); community college water technology programs help.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training, 2-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Water Quality Technology (2-year), Environmental Technology.
Shrinking (about -6% over 10 years). Plant automation is reducing staff, but retirements create about 10,000 openings a year.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Plants run on automated controls and AI flags problems; licensed operators must still be on site, so jobs shrink slowly.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to your city water or wastewater plant for operator trainee jobs; they sponsor the state exam First: Government hiring takes weeks; state operator certification follows with plant time and an exam
Classes: Chemistry, Biology, Algebra I.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-8031.
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.