Career Paths From Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Gas Plant OperatorsLateral Move95.7% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Gas Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Gas Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 46% higher.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$87,820
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Plant OperatorsLateral Move95.6% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Power Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Power Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 70% higher.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$102,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsCareer Change95% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 29% higher.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$77,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move93.9% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$58,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersCareer Change94.9% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 3% higher.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$61,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsCareer Change94.6% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 17% higher.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$70,070
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and HostlersCareer Change94.3% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$60,600
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move95.7% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 20% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$48,250
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move95.5% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 31% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$41,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move95.6% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 23% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$46,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move94% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 28% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$43,220
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move95.9% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 19% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$48,540
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Roustabouts, Oil and GasCareer Change94.9% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Roustabouts, Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Roustabouts, Oil and Gas is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 22% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$46,960
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersLateral Move93.3% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 23% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$46,350
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move96.5% skill match
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators and Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 18% lower.
Current median salary
$60,020
Target median salary
$48,990
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.