Wastewater treatment operators typically need minimal formal education but must obtain state certifications. Pay can reach high earning ranges, especially after licensing, with added compensation such as shift differentials and overtime. Training roles can start at hourly wages and progress to annual salaries once licensed. Hiring can be competitive, with many applicants for limited trainee positions. Experience and unrelated degrees may help candidates, but licensing is the key requirement. The work can feel manageable at times, though conditions may become difficult, and odors from human waste can be unpleasant.
"Waste water treatment operators need minimal formal education; you just gotta get state certifications, which aren't too bad. You can easily make five figures in the higher range, and I'm told the work is pretty easy. You just gotta be cool working around human waste."
"I just started as an operator-in-training two months ago. I'm making $32/hr while training, and I'll be making around $105k/yr after I'm licensed with shift differential and OT. It's competitive where I am, though. I'm 1 of 12 trainees hired this year from an application pool of over 600."
"I do have a bachelor's degree in a non-related field and over a decade of experience in beverage manufacturing. It does seem like a generally chill job until it isn't, and the smells aren't great."
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