Water or wastewater treatment plant operator
Runs or controls whole systems of machines, often from control boards, that move or treat water or wastewater.
Will AI replace water or wastewater treatment plant operator jobs?
AI changes jobs more often than it replaces them. How much AI can help with this work: Low. More AI overlap than 0 in 100 jobs. AI touches a small part of this work. Most of the job happens with your hands, your body or in person. 0% of this job’s working time is already spent on tasks people bring to AI at work (Anthropic Economic Index). Based on Microsoft research on real AI use at work, matched to the tasks of each job in O*NET.
What AI already helps with
- Record operating data, staff attendance, and meter and gauge readings
What stays human
- Collect and test water and sewage samples using test equipment
- Run and adjust equipment that cleans water, treats sewage, and makes power
- Add chemicals like chlorine or lime to disinfect and deodorize water
10-year outlook · USA
Expected change in the number of these jobs by 2035: -5.7%. Typical pay: $60,020 a year. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. German figures differ, but the direction is usually similar.
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