Headline risk
13%
Low RiskWater and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 58,260
Employment 2024
132.4K
Projected Change (2024–34)
-6.5%
Openings (2024–34)
10.7K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards. AI use: 0%
- 2. Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power. AI use: 0%
- 3. Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms. AI use: 0%
- 4. Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids. AI use: 0%
- 5. Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions. AI use: 0%
- 6. Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 41.6 · 118K employed
Under 25: 10% · 25–54: 69% · 55+: 21%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
major_group_fallback · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Most water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed by local government. They typically work full time. Rotating shifts, including days, nights, and weekends, are common.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. They also complete on-the-job training. A state license is usually required; however, entry-level workers often complete their licensing requirements during on-the-job training.
The median annual wage for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators was $58,260 in May 2024.
Employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.