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Drinking Water Jobs (NOW HIRING)

HDR

Drinking Water Market Sector Leader

Irvine, CA · On-site

Drinking Water Growth and Strategy * Develop and drive a long-range Drinking Water vision and strategy for HDR's Southern California Area. * Lead HDR's Drinking Water branding in Southern California ...

Woodard & Curran Inc.

NY · On-site

$125 - $170/hr

Drinking water distribution capacity analysis and design * Drinking water treatment system upgrades * PFAS treatment systems * Lead and Copper Rule project initiatives What you will be doing at ...

HDR

Drinking Water and Wastewater Engineer

Anchorage, AK · On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly ...

Woodard & Curran

Drinking Water Project Manager

Tampa, FL · Hybrid

$125K - $170K/yr

Drinking water distribution capacity analysis and design * Drinking water treatment system upgrades * PFAS treatment systems * Lead and Copper Rule project initiatives What you will be doing at ...

HDR

Drinking Water Project Manager

Omaha, NE

From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly ...

Woodard & Curran

Drinking Water Project Manager

Tampa, FL · Hybrid

$125K - $170K/yr

Drinking water distribution capacity analysis and design * Drinking water treatment system upgrades * PFAS treatment systems * Lead and Copper Rule project initiatives What you will be doing at ...

HDR

Drinking Water Project Manager

Kansas City, MO

From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly ...

HDR

Drinking Water Project Manager

Kansas City, MO · On-site

From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly ...

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Drinking Water information

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$5

$13

$22

How much do drinking water jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for drinking water in the United States is $13.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $9.62 and $15.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a drinking water operator?

Drinking water operators are professionals responsible for managing, monitoring, and maintaining water treatment facilities to ensure the safe and reliable supply of potable water to the public. Their duties include testing water quality, operating treatment equipment, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and safety standards. They may also respond to emergencies, perform routine maintenance, and keep detailed records of plant operations. Drinking water operators play a vital role in protecting public health by ensuring that water is clean and safe to drink.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drinking water treatment plant operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Drinking Water Treatment Plant Operator, you need knowledge of water treatment processes, regulatory compliance, and a high school diploma or equivalent—often supplemented by specialized training or certification. Familiarity with SCADA systems, laboratory testing equipment, and state operator certification exams is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills enable operators to address issues quickly and work effectively in teams. These competencies ensure the safe delivery of potable water and compliance with public health regulations.

What are some common challenges faced by drinking water treatment plant operators, and how can they be addressed?

Drinking water treatment plant operators often encounter challenges such as maintaining water quality standards, responding to equipment malfunctions, and adapting to changing regulations. To address these, operators regularly monitor water samples, perform preventive maintenance, and participate in ongoing training. Collaboration with engineers, laboratory technicians, and regulatory agencies is also essential to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient operations. Staying updated on industry best practices and technological advancements further helps operators meet these challenges effectively.

What is the difference between Drinking Water vs Water Treatment Plant Operator?

AspectDrinking WaterWater Treatment Plant Operator
CertificationsWater Distribution Operator Certification, EPA certificationsWater Treatment Certification, EPA certifications
Work EnvironmentMunicipal water systems, treatment facilitiesWater treatment plants, industrial facilities
Employer & IndustryPublic water utilities, municipalitiesPublic utilities, industrial sectors

Drinking Water professionals focus on ensuring safe, clean drinking water for the public, often working within municipal systems. Water Treatment Plant Operators manage the operation and maintenance of water treatment facilities, which may include broader industrial processes. While both roles require similar certifications and work environments, Drinking Water specialists primarily serve public water systems, whereas Water Treatment Plant Operators may work in various industrial settings.

More about Drinking Water jobs

What cities are hiring for Drinking Water jobs?

Cities with the most Drinking Water job openings:

What states have the most Drinking Water jobs?

States with the most job openings for Drinking Water jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Drinking Water jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Drinking Water jobs are:

Drinking Water jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drinking Water job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $28,530 per year, or $13.7 per hour.

Drinking Water Market Sector Leader

HDR

Irvine, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

HDR rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 60 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 453 rated engineering

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
In the role of Area Drinking Water Market Sector Leader, we'll count on you to:
Drinking Water Growth and Strategy
  • Develop and drive a long-range Drinking Water vision and strategy for HDR's Southern California Area.
  • Lead HDR's Drinking Water branding in Southern California Area by engaging in professional organizations allied to the drinking water market.
  • Responsibilities also include collaborating with other technical and marketing staff in the pursuit of new projects, taking a leadership role in selected key pursuits.
  • Support the development of and provide reviews of scopes of work, fee estimate, project risk identification and project schedules.
  • Work with area leadership to coordinate staffing/recruiting plans for key hires and assist leadership as necessary with technical or project management hires.
  • Identify technical gaps and support talent management and recruiting.
  • Identity and apply Drinking Water initiatives to the marketplace.
  • Implement national Drinking Water initiatives to marketplace.
  • Participate in industry associations and serve as a company role-model in business and community organizations.
  • Develop relationships with industry counterparts in other consulting organizations
  • Client Management Activities.
  • In alignment and in support of our Client Managers, promote the Drinking Water market.
  • Be involved in marketing planning, proposals and interviews for Drinking Water projects.
  • Serve as the Client Manager for selected key clients.

Project Delivery
  • Function as a project manager on large or key projects
  • Assist with contract review on key projects to help ensure risk management, proper staffing, quality reviews and resolution of claims.
  • Ensure the best technology and solutions are integrated into project delivery
  • Serve as a QAQC reviewer for Drinking Water projects, including plans, specifications, models, presentation and report, and be engaged early in the project delivery process. #LI-JF1

Keywords: Drinking Water Market Sector Leader, drinking water
Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
  • Masters's degree in engineering, planning, or related field.
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience in major water infrastructure projects
  • Minimum 10 years managing municipal water and wastewater projects, engineering budgets, project teams.
  • Minimum of 5 years of hands-on project engineering experience
  • Good leadership and organizational skills.
  • An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must.
  • Experience with staff mentoring and development of multidiscipline teams a must.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in an engineering, planning or a related field
  • A minimum of 10 years of industry experience
  • Experienced in development and management of strategic marketing programs for planning and/or engineering services
  • Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuits
  • Experienced in overall staff development to include recruiting, career path and professional growth
  • Experienced with industry associations and maintains a visible profile in the market sector
  • Ability to work cooperatively with Regional Market Sector Directors, Market Sector Directors, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Directors, Area Business Group Managers, Area Marketing Managers and Area Managers
  • Demonstrated commitment to HDR values. An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

What HDR employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About HDR

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Omaha, NE, US

Year founded

1917

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