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Boston Career Explorer

Production

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

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: Plant Operator, Process Operator (Process Op), Relief Operator, Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator), Wastewater Operator (WW Operator), Wastewater Technician (Wastewater Tech)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$73,330
$35.25/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,460
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−5.1%
210 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Long-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$54,220$60,540$73,330$79,270$93,060

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
  • 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.
  • Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
  • Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
  • Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure31 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 35
  • Language-model AIOE 32
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 27

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is lower, and observed AI use is little or none. Better monitoring systems may reduce how often workers check equipment by hand, and Massachusetts jobs are projected to shrink. Taking samples, adjusting treatment, adding chemicals, and responding to equipment problems still need people.

Likely to change

  • Manual equipment checks and gauge monitoring
  • Recording meter readings and operating data

Still relies on people

  • Collecting samples and adjusting treatment
  • Responding to equipment problems at the plant

What federal projections say

“Productivity change - share decreases as improved equipment monitoring systems reduce the need to manually check plant equipment.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

    Your knowledge of water systems carries over to water and sewer piping. This job offers higher pay and growing demand through an apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$23,430 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.5%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

    Monitoring equipment and keeping records carry over to repairing valves and controls. This job pays more and is growing.

    Pay difference
    +$22,190 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.8%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Industrial Machinery Mechanics

    Watching equipment for malfunctions carries over to repairing industrial machinery. This job is growing quickly and pays a bit more.

    Pay difference
    +$1,870 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +17.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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