10 Best U.S. Cities for Water and Wastewater Jobs in 2024

1/9/2024

Electricity. Heat. Water. Cell phone service. None of that would be possible if not for the hard work and dedication of the 560,000 utility workers who help ensure access to those everyday essentials.

With employee demand and wages both on the rise, now is a great time to build a great career as a utility worker. In fact, average industry hourly wages increased 20% from 2019 to 2023 alone.

Several factors fuel demand for a variety of utility services, including population growth and new infrastructure installation, existing infrastructure replacement, and ongoing maintenance and repair. Thus, there are more employment opportunities in certain parts of the country than others. Employment opportunities may also vary depending on which segment of the broader utilities industry you’re seeking employment in.

Water & Wastewater Treatment Professionals operate an entire process of systems and machines to transfer and treat water and wastewater. Employing nearly 124,000 people as a whole, the majority of water and wastewater treatment professionals are found in local government institutions.

Employment opportunities

The top 10 cities employing the most water and wastewater treatment professionals are:

1. New York

2. Chicago

3. Phoenix

4. Los Angeles

5. Houston

6. Boston

7. Philadelphia

8. Miami

9. Dallas

10. Riverside, California

Wages and compensation

Cement pipe, near the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant, San Francisco Bay Area, Sunnyvale, California Water and wastewater treatment professionals earn an average of $24 per hour across the industry. San Francisco leads the way by paying more than $47. The top 10 best-paying cities for water and wastewater treatment workers are:

1. San Francisco

2. San Jose, California

3. Las Vegas

4. Vallejo, California

5. Santa Cruz, California

6. Santa Rosa, California

7. Bridgeport, Connecticut

8. Norwich, Connecticut

9. Seattle

10. Olympia, Washington

In conclusion

Choosing the best cities to seek employment as a water and wastewater professional largely depends on where you’d like to live and work. Yes, certain cities offer more employment opportunities and higher wages. But the industry as a whole is growing, is in urgent need of workers, and is paying higher wages than it has ever paid before. Now is a great time to build a great career as a water and wastewater treatment professional—whichever city you choose.

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