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WATER AND LIQUID WASTE TREATMENT PLANT AND SYSTEM OPERATORS: CALIFORNIA
Occupation Description
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or liquid waste.
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State and National Wages
| Location |
Pay
Period |
2009 |
| 10% |
25% |
Median |
75% |
90% |
| United States |
Hourly |
$11.82 |
$14.89 |
$19.16 |
$24.34 |
$29.90 |
| Yearly |
$24,600 |
$31,000 |
$39,900 |
$50,600 |
$62,200 |
| California |
Hourly |
$17.15 |
$21.79 |
$27.61 |
$34.04 |
$39.32 |
| Yearly |
$35,700 |
$45,300 |
$57,400 |
$70,800 |
$81,800 |
- High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
- Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
- Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.
- High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
- Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
- Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.
Occupation Wages FAQs
Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: California Occupational Wages
State and National Trends
| United States |
Employment |
Percent
Change |
Job Openings 1 |
| 2008 |
2018 |
Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators |
113,400 |
135,900 |
+20%
|
4,690
| California |
Employment |
Percent
Change |
Job Openings 1 |
| 2006 |
2016 |
| Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators |
8,300 |
9,900 |
+19%
|
310
|
1Job Openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement.
Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.
Occupation Trends FAQs
Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
Compare Employment Trends by Occupation
Employment Trends by Industry and Occupation
National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information Division
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators.
Knowledge:
- Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Skills:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Abilities:
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Source: Occupational Information Network: Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators.
Tasks and Activities
Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators.
Occupation Specific Tasks:
- Add chemicals such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas using hand tools and power tools.
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
Generalized Work Activities:
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Detailed Work Activities:
- adjust production equipment/machinery setup
- clean equipment or machinery
- collect samples for testing
- control operation of compressors
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- inspect machinery or equipment to determine adjustments or repairs needed
- install water or sewer treatment plant equipment
- load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
- maintain consistent production quality
- maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
- maintain production or work records
- monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
- operate chemical processing equipment
- operate power driven pumps
- operate power generation equipment
- operate water treatment equipment
- test materials or solutions
- use hand or power tools
- use laboratory equipment
- use pipe fitting equipment
- use precision measuring tools or equipment
Source: Occupational Information Network: Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators.
Tools and Technology
Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators View Detailed Report
Tools:
- Air samplers or collectors - Air monitoring equipment, Emissions monitoring systems
- Chlorine handling equipment - Dechlorination equipment, Disinfection chlorinators, Sulphonators
- Mixers or agitators - Aerators, Agitators, Flocculators
- Turbidimeters - Suspended solid measurement equipment, Turbidity meters, Turbidity testing equipment
- Ultrafiltration equipment - Backwash filters, Microstrainers, Rapid sand filters, Slow sand filters, Trickling filter beds
Technology:
- Compliance software - Compliance software, Material safety data sheet MSDS software
- Data base user interface and query software - Data logging software, Database software
- Industrial control software - Human machine interface HMI software, Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software, Wastewater expert control systems
- Office suite software - Microsoft Office software
- Time accounting software - Timekeeping software
Source: Occupational Information Network: Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators.
Education and Training
Occupation: Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Long-term on-the-job training
Related Instructional Programs: Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician
Distribution of Educational Attainment
| Occupation |
Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is |
| Less than high school diploma |
High school diploma or equivalent |
Some college, no degree |
Associate's degree |
Bachelor's degree |
Master's degree |
Doctoral or professional degree |
| Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators |
3.9% |
44.9% |
31% |
10.6% |
8.5% |
0.9% |
0.2% |
| Plant and System Operators |
5.5% |
40.8% |
31.3% |
11.4% |
9.5% |
1.3% |
0.3% |
| Production |
21.1% |
45.4% |
20% |
6.4% |
5.9% |
1% |
0.3% |
| Total, All Occupations |
10.7% |
27.6% |
20.6% |
8.9% |
19.4% |
8.3% |
4.5% |
Find colleges, training schools and instructional programs for this occupation.
Find education and training programs where you can earn a certificate, diploma, or award in less than 2 years with the Short-Term Training Finder.
Access additional Education Resources in the Career Resource Library.
Use the Financial Aid Advisor to help find funds for financing education.
WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://etpl.edd.ca.gov/wiaetplind.htm
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)
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