Data & Research
 
* ELMI Occupation Profile - Water/Wastewater Engineers *
 
Water/Wastewater Engineers
(O*NET 17-2051.02, SOC 17-2051)
What they do
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.
 
Also called:
Consulting Engineer, County Engineer, Engineer, Project Development Engineer
 
 
Wages
Civil Engineers*
Vermont - 2023
Percentile1HourlyYearly
10% $ 30.72   $63,910  
25% $ 32.05   $66,660  
Median $ 37.83   $78,690  
75% $ 46.93   $97,600  
90% $ 56.89   $118,340  
 
Average $ 40.68   $84,620  
* You're seeing information for "Civil Engineers" because it includes "Water/Wastewater Engineers" for which wage information is not available.
1 What are Percentile Wages?
More at CareerOneStop
 
Industries of Employment
Civil Engineers*
United States - 2020
IndustryPercent of total
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services
55%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals
12%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals
10%
  • Construction of buildings
7%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service
4%
* You're seeing information for "Civil Engineers" because it includes "Water/Wastewater Engineers" for which industries of employment information is not available.
More at BLS
 
Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about:
  • Engineering and Technology
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Design
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • English Language
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Building and Construction
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
More at O*NET
 
Skills
People in this career often have these skills:
  • Critical Thinking
    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making
    Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Reading Comprehension
    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Writing
    Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Active Listening
    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
More at O*NET
 
Interests
People in this career often prefer these work environments:
  • Investigative
    Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
  • Realistic
    Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
  • Enterprising
    Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler
 
Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Integrity
    Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Cooperation
    Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
More at O*NET
 
Tasks
On the job, you would:
  • 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.
More at O*NET
 
Related Occupations
More at O*NET
 
 
Career Video
Watch at CareerOneStop with transcript or at YouTube.
 
Projected Employment
Civil Engineers*
 Vermont
2020 employment 785
2030 employment 870
Annual percent change
(compounded)
1.0%
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations)
65
* You're seeing information for "Civil Engineers" because it includes "Water/Wastewater Engineers" for which projected employment information is not available.
More at Occupational Projections
 
Education and Experience:
Civil Engineers*
  • Typical education needed for entry
    Bachelor's degree
  • Work experience in a related occupation
    None
  • Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
    None
* You're seeing information for "Civil Engineers" because it includes "Water/Wastewater Engineers" for which education and experience information is not available.
Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications
 
Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
 
  • Physical activity is Somewhat Important
  • Level of activity is Low
Importance
Low   High
Level
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Job Zone
Considerable Preparation Needed
  • Specific Vocational Preparation Range
    (7.0 to < 8.0) - A typical worker will require over 2 years up to and including 4 years of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP
 
Education Level
How much education do most people in this career have?
Education level Percent of
U.S. Workers
Doctoral or professional degree
or post-MA certificate
  4%
Master's degree or
post-BA certificate
  26%
Bachelor's degree   70%
Associate's degree   0%
Certificate or some college,
no degree
  0%
High school diploma
or equivalent
  0%
Less than high school diploma   0%
More at O*NET
 
Licensing
Vermont may require an occupational license:
Select a license for details
 
Abilities
People in this career often have talent in:
  • Deductive Reasoning
    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Inductive Reasoning
    The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Information Ordering
    The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Oral Comprehension
    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
More at O*NET
 
Work Activities
In general, what you might do:
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Getting Information
    Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Working with Computers
    Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Analyzing Data or Information
    Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
More at O*NET
 
Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day:
  • Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
  • Provide technical guidance to other personnel.
  • Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
  • Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
  • Design civil structures or systems.
More at O*NET
 
Other Resources
  • CareerOneStop
    resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
  • O*NET Online
    nation's primary source of occupational information
 
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This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

BLS

This page includes information produced in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and State Occupational Projections programs.

 
 
 
 
Vermont.gov State of Vermont Department of Labor