Summary Report for:
11-9121.02 - Water Resource Specialists
Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Education | Wages & Employment | Additional Information
Tasks
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, chemical, physical, and biological water quality monitoring or sampling to ensure compliance with water quality standards.
- Develop strategies for watershed operations to meet water supply and conservation goals or to ensure regulatory compliance with clean water laws or regulations.
- Analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements.
- Conduct cost-benefit studies for watershed improvement projects or water management alternatives.
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as water storage, wastewater discharge, pollutants, permits, or other compliance and regulatory issues.
- Conduct technical studies for water resources on topics such as pollutants and water treatment options.
- Develop or implement standardized water monitoring and assessment methods.
- Develop plans to protect watershed health or rehabilitate watersheds.
- Identify and characterize specific causes or sources of water pollution.
- Identify methods for distributing purified wastewater into rivers, streams, or oceans.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Commercial fishing nets — Plankton nets; Seines |
| Nitrogen or nitrate or nitrite analyzer — Nitrate meters; Nitrite meters |
| Open stream current meters — Stream flow gauges |
| Two way radios — Mobile radios |
| Water samplers — Automated water sampling equipment; Total dissolved solids TDS meters; Water quality test kits |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Analytical or scientific software — ESRI ArcGIS Spatial Analyst; Laboratory information management system LIMS software; MWH Soft H2ONET MSX; Wallingford Software InfoWater |
| Data base user interface and query software — Database software; Scientific Software Group RIVERMorph; Structured query language SQL |
| Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook |
| Map creation software — ESRI ArcGIS software; ESRI ArcPad; ESRI ArcView; Google Earth Pro |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
Education
This occupation may require a background in the following science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational disciplines:
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Natural Sciences Managers.
Employment data collected from Natural Sciences Managers.
Industry data collected from Natural Sciences Managers.
| Median wages (2010) | $55.78 hourly, $116,020 annual |
| Employment (2008) | 45,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2008-2018) | 
Faster than average (14% to 19%)
|
| Projected job openings (2008-2018) | 20,100 |
| Top industries (2008) |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010 wage data
and 2008-2018 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2008-2018). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Engineering and natural sciences managers
. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition.