Water/Wastewater Engineers
Architecture and Engineering
Designs treatment plants, pumping stations, sewers, and distribution systems for drinking water and wastewater, choosing equipment such as membranes, lift stations, and disinfection units that meet government standards. Proposals and plans from others get reviewed and critiqued; junior engineers and CAD technicians may be directed. Water-quality studies help identify pollution sources, and existing plants are evaluated for efficiency. The work also covers flood-damage prevention and the environmental documentation that goes with water-resource projects. Fits people who prefer detailed system design, checking plans against standards, and directing technical staff.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$100'840
Median Wage Market Position
$100'840
What you might do
- Design water and wastewater treatment plants
- Lay out pipelines, pumps, and sewer systems
- Plan drinking-water distribution networks
- Study water quality and pollution sources
- Review treatment system plans and proposals
- Supervise junior engineers and CAD technicians
Skills that matter
- Treatment-plant and pumping-station design
- Review of water-system plans and proposals
- Hydraulic modeling of pipes and flow
- Guidance for junior engineers and CAD technicians
- Water-quality studies of pollutant sources
- Equipment selection for government compliance
AI & the future of this role
Hydraulic modeling and compliance documentation may move faster with automation, but system tradeoffs, field conditions, and public-health liability still need human judgment. That mix of digital analysis and accountable oversight tends to leave resilience near the middle.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details