Occupations · Architecture and Engineering

Water/Wastewater Engineers

Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 17-2051.02

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel.
Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems.
Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings.
Evaluate the operation and maintenance of water or wastewater systems to identify ways to improve their efficiency.
Design or select equipment for use in wastewater processing to ensure compliance with government standards.
Design pumping systems, pumping stations, pipelines, force mains, or sewers for the collection of wastewater.
Design water distribution systems for potable or non-potable water.
Conduct water quality studies to identify and characterize water pollutant sources.
Analyze and recommend chemical, biological, or other wastewater treatment methods to prepare water for industrial or domestic use.
Identify design alternatives for the development of new water resources.
Design water runoff collection networks, water supply channels, or water supply system networks.
Design water or wastewater lift stations, including water wells.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Critical Thinking4.0

Writing4.0

Reading Comprehension4.0

Active Listening3.9

Mathematics3.9

Speaking3.8

Monitoring3.6

Science3.5

Active Learning3.2

Learning Strategies3.1

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Autodesk AutoCAD●Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D●Autodesk Revit●Bash●Bentley MicroStation●ESRI ArcGIS software●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft Word●Mozilla Firefox●Oracle Java●Python●SAP software●Structured query language SQL●Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering SuiteBentley InRoads SuiteBentley SewerCADBentley StormCADBentley WaterCADBusiness software applicationsComputer aided design and drafting software CADDDHI MIKE URBANEPA Storm Water Management Model SWMMESRI software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.7 below average

Spend Time Standing−1.1 below average

Spend Time Sitting+1.0 above average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

Written Letters and Memos+0.9 above average

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment+0.9 above average

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks−0.9 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2020-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree70%

Master's Degree26%

First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.4%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2020-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic5.6

Investigative5.3

Conventional4.5

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Judgment and Decision Making4.0

Systems Evaluation3.9

Systems Analysis3.9

Complex Problem Solving3.9

Time Management3.8

Management of Personnel Resources3.2

Operations Analysis3.2

Instructing3.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Engineering and TechnologyDesignEnglish LanguageMathematicsBuilding and ConstructionAdministration and Management

Abilities it leans on

Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive Reasoning

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

EngineerWater EngineerCounty EngineerHydrologic ModelerWatershed EngineerConsulting EngineerHydraulics EngineerWastewater EngineerDimensional EngineerRemediation EngineerWater Project EngineerWater Systems DesignerWater Systems EngineerWater Resources Engineer

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2020

Comparing O*NET release 25.1 (2020-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 5

+HydroCAD Software Solutions HydroCAD Stormwater Modeling System+OpenRoads Designer+HEC-HMS+Geographic information system GIS systems+Business software applications

No longer listed 2

−HydroCAD Software Solutions HydroCAD−Word processing software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

EngineerWater EngineerCounty EngineerHydrologic ModelerWatershed EngineerWastewater EngineerHydraulics EngineerConsulting EngineerRemediation EngineerDimensional EngineerWater Systems DesignerWater Project Engineer

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
water engineering technician	3112.1.13	close
water engineer	2142.1.11	broader
wastewater engineer	2142.1.10	broader
drainage engineer	2142.1.3	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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