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Water Operations Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

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Water Operations information

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$10

$17

$27

How much do water operations jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for water operations in Tennessee is $17.99, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.94 and $20.29 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is water operations?

Water Operations refer to the processes and activities involved in managing the supply, treatment, and distribution of water for public and industrial use. This includes monitoring water quality, maintaining infrastructure like pipes and pumps, ensuring regulatory compliance, and responding to emergencies such as leaks or contamination. Professionals in water operations work to ensure that safe and adequate water is delivered to communities while protecting public health and the environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in water operations?

To thrive in Water Operations, you need a solid understanding of water treatment processes, distribution systems, and relevant regulations, often supported by a high school diploma or associate degree and state certification. Familiarity with SCADA systems, water quality testing equipment, and maintenance tools is typically required. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help operators respond quickly to issues and work collaboratively. These skills are critical for ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient water supply and infrastructure management.

What are the typical daily challenges faced by professionals in water operations, and how can new team members best prepare for them?

Professionals in Water Operations often encounter challenges such as maintaining water quality standards, responding quickly to equipment malfunctions, and adapting to changing weather or environmental conditions. New team members can best prepare by gaining a strong understanding of regulatory requirements, familiarizing themselves with monitoring and control systems, and developing good communication skills for effective teamwork. Staying proactive with preventive maintenance and being adaptable to shift work or emergency response situations are also key to succeeding in this role.

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

AspectWater OperationsWater Treatment Plant Operator
CertificationsOften requires state-specific water operator licensesTypically requires a water treatment operator license
Work EnvironmentIncludes water distribution systems, treatment facilities, and fieldworkPrimarily focuses on operating and maintaining water treatment equipment
Employer & Industry UsageMunicipal water departments, utilities, and industrial facilitiesMunicipal water treatment plants, water utilities
Job FocusOverseeing water distribution, quality, and system maintenanceManaging water treatment processes and ensuring water quality standards

Water Operations and Water Treatment Plant Operator roles share overlapping skills and certifications, but Water Operations covers a broader scope including water distribution and system management, while Water Treatment Plant Operators focus specifically on treatment processes. Both roles are essential in maintaining safe and reliable water services in municipal and industrial settings.

How much do water operations make in the US?

Water operations professionals, including roles such as water treatment plant operators and distribution system operators, typically earn a median annual salary of around $50,000 to $70,000 in the US. Salaries vary based on experience, certifications, location, and the complexity of the systems managed.

Is being a water operations professional worth it?

Water operations professionals manage the infrastructure and systems that supply clean water and treat wastewater, often working in field and plant environments. The role offers stable employment with opportunities for advancement and requires technical skills, certifications, and adherence to safety standards. It can be a rewarding career for those interested in public health and environmental management.

What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Water Operations jobs?

Cities in Tennessee with the most Water Operations job openings:

Infographic showing various Water Operations job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,413 per year, or $18 per hour.

Treatment Operations Coordinator

City of Charlotte

Franklin, TN • On-site

$34.40 - $49.43/hr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


City Of Charlotte (North Carolina) rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 23 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

97th of 848 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

Department: Charlotte Water DepartmentSalary: $34.40 - $49.43 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America's Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

  • Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

  • Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

  • Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

  • Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

  • Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

Charlotte's local government, with more than 9,000 employees and a total budget of $3.65 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone - a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play.
Charlotte Water is an enterprise department of the City of Charlotte and one of the largest public water and sewer service providers in the southeast with over 330,000 customer accounts and over 1100 employees. Our service area includes the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mint Hill, Matthews and Pineville. Charlotte Water's FY 26 budget is $651 million and a five-year capital program of $2.2.28 billion. We enjoy the highest credit ratings from Moody's and S&P Global as a result of sound financial planning and management and strong support from our City Council. We value competent, skilled candidates with a customer service focus to work in a team environment.

Salary:

The salary for this position is $38.69 - $42.98, commensuration with experience.

JOB SUMMARY

This position works with the plant supervisors and staff to provide safe drinking water for the City of Charlotte. Work involves scheduling contactors; attending meetings with contractors; management of right of way, easement and tank and booster station mowing contracts; assisting with shutdown of plant piping and or equipment; review and evaluation and preliminary engineering reports; preparation of summary reports for management; assisting with pilot studies; assisting with coordinating the repair of valves; scheduling cleaning of elevated tanks and chlorination of tanks; helping coordinate the repair of valves; review of existing WT training documents and SOP's to recommend revisions and coordinating plant related projects with others. This position also trains new personnel on plant operations, City policy, and safety considerations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

  • Coordinates the repair of plant equipment per construction project requirements which may include facility shutdowns.
  • Schedules work of contactors at water treatment facilities, booster stations, tanks and right of ways.
  • Attend design and project meetings with engineers and contractors.
  • Assists with shutdown of plant piping and or equipment.
  • Schedules cleaning of elevated tanks and chlorination of tanks.
  • Helps coordinate the repair of valves and the sterilization of water mains.
  • Trains new personnel on plant operations, City policy, and safety considerations.
  • Performs other related job duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

  • High school diploma or GED from an accredited school.
  • Five (5) years of related work experience.
  • 2- or 4-year degree preferred.
  • High aptitude and skill for computer related work.

Licenses, Certifications or Registrations:

  • Certifications Required: Class A-Surface Water Treatment; Grade 1 Physical Chemical; and Class C-Distribution.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of plant operations and City policies.
  • Knowledge of related safety practices.
  • Ability to coordinate the repair of equipment with contractors according to defined scopes of work.
  • Development of service contracts with the procurement team.
  • Schedules for maintenance, cleaning and sterilization of elevated storage tanks.
  • Ability to create work schedules for plant staff and contractors.
  • Ability to on-board all water treatment operators and train them in their operational responsibilities at their respective facilities.
  • Ability to provide reports to ORCs, the Operations Manager, Maintenance and Instrumentation staff as needed.
  • Ability to train operators in conducting proper laboratory procedures according to SOPs as directed by the Water Quality Administrator.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work is medium work and requires applying 30 pounds of force frequently and exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: climbing, feeling, manual dexterity, grasping, handling, perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, distinguishing among sounds, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity in data/color/observations/ equipment/inspections, and walking.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties at any time. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City's Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate's written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.


Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Clickhereto learn more about the City of Charlotte's benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.


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