Also called: Water Treatment Lab Technician
Tests drinking water and wastewater to make sure it's safe.
Every day you test water samples from a city treatment plant for bacteria, chlorine, and metals, and alert operators if anything is off. Your work keeps a whole city's tap water safe.
Based on environmental science and protection technicians.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate degree in chemistry or environmental technology; state lab certification.
Ways in: 2-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Environmental Technology, Chemistry.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Online analyzers watch water around the clock; certified lab tests and alerts to operators stay human.
Classes: Chemistry, Biology, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4042.
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.