Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Occupation · SOC 51-8031.00
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Also called: Wastewater Operator (WW Operator) · Water Plant Operator · Water Treatment Operator · Water Treatment Plant Operator · Plant Operator · Process Operator (Process Op) · Relief Operator · Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator) · Wastewater Technician (Wastewater Tech) · Water Control Dispatcher · Basin Tender · Biosolids Management Technician (Biosolids Management Tech)
Job family: Production Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-51-8031-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Declining employment outlook (-6.5% by 2034)
- 10,700 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $58,260/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
- 2013 flagged this for computerization (52nd); today's AI task-overlap is comparatively low (15th)
15th-percentile task overlap — yet about 10,700 openings a year (-6.5% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Moderate | 37th | -0.4 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 17th | 0.1 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 0th | 0.0 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.1), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.1). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.6 · 52nd percentile among occupations · Moderate
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -6.5% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 10,700 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 132,400 → 123,800 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators sits at the 49th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure eased from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
27% mean task exposure (2025)
49th percentile of 427 placed occupations
−5 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Incinerator and Water Treatment Plant Operators · 3132 | 27% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 8 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards. Core · importance 4.9
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power. Core · importance 4.8
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms. Core · importance 4.8
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids. Core · importance 4.7
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions. Core · importance 4.3
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities. Core · importance 4.1
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools. Core · importance 4.0
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools. Core · importance 3.8
Emerging tasks
Newer responsibilities O*NET has flagged as growing for this occupation.
- Complete wastewater discharge monitoring reports and maintenance logs.
- Maintain and repair portable safety equipment and permanent safety infrastructure to ensure operational readiness and compliance with safety protocols.
Work activities
- Clean work areas.
- Clean production equipment.
- Maintain production or processing equipment.
- Operate chemical processing or water treatment systems or equipment.
- Inspect production equipment.
- Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
- Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
- Record operational or production data.
- Repair production equipment or tools.
- Lubricate production equipment.
- Direct operational or production activities.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Public Safety and Security | 4.2 | |
| Mechanical | 3.6 | |
| English Language | 3.5 | |
| Chemistry | 3.4 | |
| Administration and Management | 3.4 | |
| Mathematics | 3.4 | |
| Education and Training | 3.4 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.3 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.2 | |
| Law and Government | 3.2 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.2 | |
| Biology | 3.1 | |
| Administrative | 3.0 | |
| Production and Processing | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
| Operation and Control | 4.0 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 | |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 | |
| Repairing | 3.1 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Abilities
| Oral Comprehension | 3.8 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.8 | |
| Near Vision | 3.6 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.5 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.5 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.1 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.1 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Control Precision | 3.1 | |
| Written Expression | 3.0 |
Essential skills
| Monitoring | 3.6 | |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Preparation level
- SVP (Below 6.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 50.0% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 37.5% | |
| Some College Courses | 8.3% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.2% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 6.8 | |
| Conventional | 4.6 | |
| Investigative | 2.5 |
Interest areas
Work styles
| Dependability | 3.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 2.6 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.6 | |
| Integrity | 1.9 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $37,870 |
| 25th percentile | $47,020 |
| Median (50th) | $58,260 |
| 75th percentile | $71,280 |
| 90th percentile | $86,160 |
| People employed | 126,750 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities · Sector | 16,180 | $57,820 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 5,180 | $56,900 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 3,740 | $55,320 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 1,560 | $52,820 |
| Construction · Sector | 1,310 | $61,580 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 810 | $47,830 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 710 | $57,930 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 670 | $72,580 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 570 | $62,920 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 550 | $58,050 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 500 | $55,200 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 410 | $58,780 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities · Sector | 33.97× | 16,180 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation · National industry | 5.63× | 330 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 1.17× | 550 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 0.75× | 710 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 0.55× | 570 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 0.5× | 3,740 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 0.49× | 5,180 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 0.37× | 810 |
Related occupations
Part of the Energy & Natural Resources career cluster.
- Chemical Plant and System Operators · 51-8091.00 Compare →
- Biomass Plant Technicians · 51-8013.03 Compare →
- Power Plant Operators · 51-8013.00 Compare →
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians · 51-8013.04 Compare →
- Gas Plant Operators · 51-8092.00 Compare →
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders · 51-9012.00 Compare →
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders · 51-9011.00 Compare →
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers · 51-8093.00 Compare →
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators · 51-8021.00 Compare →
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators · 53-7071.00 Compare →
- Water/Wastewater Engineers · 17-2051.02 Compare →
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners · 47-4071.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- High school diploma or equivalent · typical entry level
- Job zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 49th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators show 15th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 10,700 annual U.S. openings
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators rank in the 15th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 10,700 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be declining (-6.5%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $58,260, across about 126,750 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators show 15th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 10,700 annual U.S. openings • Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators rank in the 15th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 10,700 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-6.5%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $58,260, across about 126,750 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-8031-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-8031-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-8031-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-51-8031-00,
title = {Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-8031-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.