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Water Testing Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

MWH is a leading water and wastewater treatment-focused general contractor in the US with a rich ... Ensure adherence to QA/QC standards for rebar placement, concrete mixes, testing, and placement ...

Soft water system requirements Boiler water testing Adding oil to liquid ammonia pumps Condenser readings and chemical delivery Waste system operations Air compressor operations and requirements ...

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Water Testing information

See Oregon salary details

$5

$31

How much do water testing jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for water testing in Oregon is $30.50, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $30.48 and $30.48 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Water Testing vs Water Quality Technician?

AspectWater TestingWater Quality Technician
CertificationsWater testing certifications, lab skillsWater testing certifications, field sampling
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, testing facilitiesField sites, treatment plants
Job FocusAnalyzing water samples for contaminantsMonitoring and maintaining water quality in the field

Water Testing primarily involves analyzing water samples in labs to detect contaminants, while Water Quality Technicians perform field sampling and monitor water conditions on-site. Both roles require similar certifications but differ in work environment and daily tasks. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the right position in the water industry.

What is water testing and why is it important?

Water testing is the process of analyzing water samples to assess their quality and ensure they are safe for consumption, industrial use, or environmental discharge. It involves checking for contaminants such as bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals, and other pollutants. Regular water testing helps identify potential health risks, ensures compliance with safety standards, and protects both people and the environment from harmful substances.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals in water testing roles, and how are they addressed on the job?

Professionals in water testing often encounter challenges such as collecting accurate samples in the field, maintaining strict adherence to quality control standards, and keeping up with evolving environmental regulations. Addressing these challenges requires attention to detail, thorough documentation, and regular calibration of equipment. Team collaboration is also essential, as water testers frequently communicate findings with environmental scientists, engineers, and regulatory bodies to ensure water safety and compliance.

How do you become a water tester?

To become a water tester, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, along with training in water quality testing methods. Certification or training in environmental science, microbiology, or related fields can improve job prospects, and familiarity with testing tools and laboratory procedures is important.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a water testing technician, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Water Testing Technician, you need a background in environmental science or chemistry, attention to detail, and knowledge of laboratory protocols, often supported by relevant certifications such as Certified Water Technician or similar. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, water sampling techniques, and data analysis software is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for accurately reporting and interpreting results. These skills ensure reliable water quality assessments crucial for public health, regulatory compliance, and environmental protection.

What are popular job titles related to Water Testing jobs in Oregon?

For Water Testing jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Water Testing jobs in Oregon look for?

The top searched job categories for Water Testing jobs in Oregon are:

What cities in Oregon are hiring for Water Testing jobs?

Cities in Oregon with the most Water Testing job openings:

Infographic showing various Water Testing job openings in Oregon as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $63,437 per year, or $30.5 per hour.

Senior Water Quality Program Specialist

City of Gresham

Gresham, OR • On-site

$80K - $103K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

Overview The City of Gresham is seeking a Senior Water Quality Program Specialist to serve as the City's central lead for its drinking water quality and protection programs, reporting directly to the Water Operations Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced water professional to take ownership of a large-scale, high-profile program with direct public health, regulatory, and community impact. This position provides advanced technical oversight and citywide coordination of regulatory sampling and reporting, distribution system flushing strategy, cross-connection control, customer water quality investigations, and data analysis across SCADA, GIS, laboratory, and field datasets.

This person must be fully versed in drinking water testing procedures under Oregon Health Authority (OHA) rules and regulations and will often serve as the division's subject matter expert. The position provides lead direction, training, and functional guidance to water quality staff. As Oregon's fourth-largest city, Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity.

Gresham is a dynamic and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive. City of Gresham employees care deeply about the community they serve and go 'one step beyond' to deliver services in collaborative, inventive, practical, and nimble ways. Our work is challenging, fast-paced and rewarding.

We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members, it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce, foster an inclusive working environment, and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints, life experiences and cultural perspectives. Come build the future with us.

Position Description What you will get to do: Plan, organize, and manage a high-profile drinking water quality program with regulatory and public health components. Assist with strategic planning, develop program goals, policies, and procedures. Monitor subprograms, evaluate and report on performance and outcomes, and analyze technical information and evolving federal and state regulatory requirements to recommend improvements and ensure ongoing compliance.

Conduct program-related research and data analysis. Gather and compile drinking water quality and regulatory monitoring data from a variety of sources. Apply descriptive statistics to answer questions and support programmatic changes.

Prepare, submit, and distribute the annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) along with a variety of technical reports, notices, and public communication materials. Develop and implement outreach in support of program goals. Build and maintain relationships with partner and regulatory agencies.

Provide water quality technical assistance and education to staff, the public, and outside agencies. Represent the City in meetings, presentations, committees, and interagency work groups, and respond to sensitive inquiries, investigate complaints, and recommend corrective actions. Maintain and advance critical program documentation, including SOPs, technical manuals, monitoring plans, and staff training materials essential to regulatory compliance and sanitary survey readiness.

Support budget development, equipment procurement, and inventory management. Deliver training and functional oversight to operations staff. Serve as delegated backup Direct Responsible Charge (DRC).

Coordinate, prioritize, and assign work to assigned staff. Perform other duties as assigned, including participation in citywide emergency response. Qualifications Knowledge of: Federal and state drinking water regulations, including the Safe Drinking Water Act and OAR 333; cross-connection control and backflow assemblies.

Sampling techniques, QA/QC protocols, and laboratory coordination. Data analysis, trend evaluation, dashboards, and regulatory record keeping. Development of monitoring schedules, SOPs, and multi-program workflows.

Ability to: Prioritize multiple high-risk regulatory tasks with minimal oversight and exercise sound operational judgment, including as backup DRC. Train others and lead program initiatives. Perform instrument calibration and field troubleshooting.

Communicate effectively verbally and in writing; present information, proposals, and recommendations clearly and persuasively. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external contacts. Minimum Qualifications: Associate's degree, and Three (3) to six (6) years of progressively responsible water quality, water distribution, or related experience.

Any combination of qualifying education, training, and/or experience equivalent to five (5) to eight (8) years may be considered. Required Licenses and Certifications: Valid driver's license Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Water Distribution System Operator Level 4 Certification. OHA Cross Connection Tester License.

OHA Cross Connection Specialist License. Ability to obtain Oregon OSHA-approved confined space training within six (6) months of hire. Driving Matrix: You will be disqualified from this process if you possess any of the following driving infractions: A major traffic offense or accident that results in death or major injury.

Driving under the influence (DUI) offense within the last 5 years. Have more than 3 moving violations within a 3-year period or more than 2 within a one- year period. Have more than 2 accidents within a 3-year period.

Selection Process To apply for this position, click 'Apply' at the top of this job posting. Required application materials: Complete online application(Do not type 'see resume' in any fields or leave work experience fields blank in the application template.) Answers to supplemental questions The City of Gresham offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education verified in your application. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials.Learn more about Oregon Equal Pay

If you desire a modification of this process to accommodate a disability, please provide your request in writing to HRRecruiting@GreshamOregon.gov, or by phone to 503-618-2729, upon submitting the required application documents. A review of application materials including your response to supplemental questions submitted will determine which candidates will be invited to an interview. Communication with candidates will be done primarily through e-mail

Sometimes these messages may land in a spam or junk mail folder. We encourage you to monitor your inbox as well as the inbox within the governmentjobs.com portal for important updates related to this process. Veteran's Preference The City of Gresham provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with state law

Any candidate wishing to have their qualifying veteran's preference applied to the process must submit a qualifying document (DD Form 214 or 215) at the time of application providing proof of eligibility that includes discharge status. Disabled veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran's disability preference letter from the US Department of Veteran Affairs at the time of application, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215. Our Commitment The City of Gresham is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without unlawful regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, Oregon, or local law.

Please direct questions about this position to 503-618-2729 or HRRecruiting@GreshamOregon.gov. If you need assistance with the online application, please contact NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627. Any offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of reference checks, a criminal background check, and driving record review.