Jobs Similar to Water/Wastewater Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to water/wastewater engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Environmental Engineers, Energy Engineers and Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers.
Water/Wastewater Engineers: $100,840 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Water/Wastewater Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental EngineersSame group | 85% | $107,110 | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 85% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 84% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 83% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Water Resource Specialists | 83% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 82% | $106,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Transportation EngineersSame group | 82% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Civil EngineersSame group | 82% | $100,840 | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 82% | $125,040 | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Petroleum EngineersSame group | 81% | $144,910 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 81% | $133,970 | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 80% | $64,950 | Training or associate |
| 13 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 80% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Solar Energy Systems EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsSame group | 80% | $115,160 | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 79% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Agricultural EngineersSame group | 79% | $98,590 | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 79% | $134,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 78% | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Materials EngineersSame group | 78% | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Environmental Engineers
85% similar · $107,110 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
85% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
84% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Wind Energy Engineers
83% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Water Resource Specialists
83% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
82% similar · $106,220 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Transportation Engineers
82% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Civil Engineers
82% similar · $100,840 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Chemical Engineers
82% similar · $125,040 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Petroleum Engineers
81% similar · $144,910 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Nuclear Engineers
81% similar · $133,970 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
80% similar · $64,950 · Training or associate
- 13Automotive Engineers
80% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Solar Energy Systems Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
80% similar · $115,160 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Environmental Restoration Planners
79% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Agricultural Engineers
79% similar · $98,590 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Aerospace Engineers
79% similar · $134,960 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Industrial Engineers
78% similar · $102,440 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Materials Engineers
78% similar · $112,860 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for water/wastewater engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where water/wastewater engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Water Resource Specialists (93)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (83)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (82)
- Hydrologists (81)
- Conservation Scientists (80)
- Environmental Restoration Planners (80)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (77)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (77)
- Industrial Ecologists (77)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (76)
Questions about jobs like water/wastewater engineers
What jobs are most similar to water/wastewater engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Environmental Engineers (85% similar), Energy Engineers (85% similar), Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (84% similar), Wind Energy Engineers (83% similar) and Water Resource Specialists (83% similar).
Do jobs like water/wastewater engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than water/wastewater engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.