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ANZSCO 712921Updated 2026-01-29

Waste Water or Water Plant Operator

National shortage level: Low

Snapshot

Median pay: AUD 108k
Weekly earnings: AUD 2080
Salary range: AUD 97k-AUD 119k
Job ads trend: Not listed
Time to hire: Varies
Visa pathways: Check eligibility

State distribution

30.7%
NSW
24.8%
QLD
19.3%
VIC

Education mix

54.4%
certificate iii/ iv
10.2%
year 10 and below
9%
year 12

Role overview

Waste Water or Water Plant Operators operate plants to store, distribute and treat water, including purifying water for human consumption and removing waste from sewage.

What you do
  • Controls flow of raw water into plant, by regulating electric motors, pumps and valves.
  • Adds specified amounts of chemicals and activates agitators to mix chemicals. carries out such tests as are required in accordance with training given.
  • Allows impurities to settle and removes them by filtering water through filtering material.

Core skills

    Credentials & pathway

    • Recommended level: certificate iii/ iv (54.4%)

    Recent job ads

    No ads listed yet.

    Tasks

    • Adds specified amounts of chemicals and activates agitators to mix chemicals. carries out such tests as are required in accordance with training given.
    • Allows impurities to settle and removes them by filtering water through filtering material.
    • Burns off gases, treats and discharges waste water when it reaches the required levels of purity.

    Earnings

    Weekly median: AUD 2080
    Annual median: AUD 108k
    Range: AUD 97k-AUD 119k