Shigoto Zukan
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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators job outlookprojected pay in 10 years $76,000 · outlook score 33/100 · BLS employment projections

United States Manufacturing & Repair Confidence ★★★★★

Median annual pay
$60,020
25th–75th pct. $48,040–$74,780
Top pay (est.)
$118,400
Top 10% $91,060
Pay in 5 years
$67,600est.
2031
Pay in 10 years
$76,000est.
$65,400–$88,300
Outlook score
33/100
★★☆☆☆ Below average
AI replacement risk
54%
Moderate
Job growth (10 yr)
−5.7%
10K openings / yr

Projected pay for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (3, 5 and 10 years)est.

Today $60,020 → in 3 years $64,400 → in 5 years $67,600 → in 10 years $76,000 (10-year range $65,400–$88,300). The model assumes pay growth of +2.4% per year.

$60,020
Now
2026
$64,400
In 3 yrs
2029
$59,500–$70,100
$67,600
In 5 yrs
2031
$60,900–$75,300
$76,000
In 10 yrs
2036
$65,400–$88,300

What drives the annual growth rate

Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand -0.48%AI impact -0.12%Total +2.4% / yr

Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →

Outlook score for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

33/100
★★☆☆☆
Below average · ranked #761 of all U.S. occupations
Pay level
48 pts
AI resistance
46 pts
Entry barrier
41 pts
Annual openings
29 pts
Projected growth
11 pts

Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.

Labor demand for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Employment
128K
BLS OEWS
Projected employment
124K
2025–35
Projected change
−5.7%
ranked #723 for growth
Annual openings
10K
growth + replacement needs
Demand score
Low
29/100
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
in a related occupation
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training

Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.