Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Machines can already do 26% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 63%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 26% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 63% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 128,490 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $60,020 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 75% for contact with people.
- Also called: Plant Operator, Process Operator (Process Op), Relief Operator, Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power | 17% | 20% to 60% | |
| Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions | 17% | 30% to 75% | |
| Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards | 15% | 20% to 60% | |
| Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools | 15% | 3% to 30% | |
| Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms | 12% | 70% to 95% | |
| Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids | 10% | 30% to 75% | |
| Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities | 4% | 10% to 27% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary51% of tasks by 2035 · US median $63,820
- Motorboat Operators62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,520
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,430
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,170
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Machines can do 26% of the tasks of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators today and 63% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 51-8031.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/water-and-wastewater-treatment-plant-and-system-operators/