by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology covers Water Quality And Wastewater Treatment Management And Recycling Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Basic Engineering Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Engineers And Other Professionals Engaged In Developing And Using Water Storage, Waterpower, And Wastewater Treatment Systems. Includes Instruction In Water Storage, Power And/or Treatment Systems And Equipment; Testing And Inspection Procedures; System Maintenance Procedures; And Report Preparation. Continue reading for the important information every water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology programs.
Across the country, water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology is a widely-pursued major, with 905 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 53 schools to determine the best overall colleges for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology programs later in this article.
Programs in Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 64 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 250 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 508 |
People currently working in careers related to water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 36.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 27.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.9% |
| Some college courses | 6.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Master’s degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 588,041 | -4.4% |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 159,640 | 3.9% |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 135,241 | -1.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,113 |
| 4 years | $40,833 |
| 5 years | $45,594 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $77,085 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $48,896 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $41,550 |
With 53 different water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
