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 almost 25% from 2019 to 2024 alone. As of August 2024, the industry unemployment rate was well below 2%.
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 systems and machines that transfer and treat water or wastewater. Employing nearly 124,000 people as a whole, the vast majority of water and wastewater treatment professionals are found within local government institutions.
Employment opportunities
The top 10 U.S. states and cities that are employing the most water and wastewater treatment professionals are:
States
1. California
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Ohio
5. Pennsylvania
6. Illinois
7. New York
8. Arizona
9. Tennessee
10. North Carolina
Cities
1. New York City, New York
2. Chicago, Illinois
3. Phoenix, Arizona
4. Houston, Texas
5. Los Angeles, California
6. Dallas, Texas
7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. Miami, Florida
9. Riverside, California
10. Boston, Massachusetts
Wages and compensation
The top 10 best-paying states and cities in the United States for water and wastewater treatment workers are:
States
Water and wastewater treatment professionals earn an average of $24.28 per hour across the entire industry. California leads the way by paying a whopping $54.86 an hour.
1. California
2. Iowa
3. Massachusetts
4. Washington
5. Nevada
6. Alaska
7. Wyoming
8. New Jersey
9. Illinois
10. Connecticut
Cities
1. San Francisco, California
2. San Jose, California
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Vallejo-Fairfield, California
5. Santa Rosa, California
6. Napa, California
7. Salinas, California
8. Yuba City, California
9. Seattle, Washington
10. Santa Cruz, California
In conclusion
Choosing the best state or city to seek employment as a water and wastewater professional largely depends on where you’d like to live and work. Yes, certain places in the country offer more employment opportunities and higher wages. But the industry 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 state or city you choose.
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