A path with purpose
Looking for a career that matters and room to grow? In every South Carolina community, people in water careers keep drinking water safe and protect our lakes and rivers.
Career Seekers
Explore Every Path
Engineering, lab science, IT, business, and more. Degree and non-degree paths across the water industry.
Become an Operator
Operator Careers
Skilled, hands-on work with on-the-job training and opportunities to advance.
Educators
Teachers & Counselors
Classroom resources, career info, and how to connect with your local utility.
The people behind SC's water, in every role
South Carolina has hundreds of local water and wastewater systems, and they all depend on skilled people, from operators and engineers to lab techs and customer service staff.
600
400+
Anticipated operator hires statewide by 2030
$38K-$61K
Typical operator pay range
Real People, Real Work
Meet some of the people keeping South Carolina's water systems running, in their own words.
J
“After 36 years in the wastewater industry, I’ve had incredible opportunities to learn, grow, and work with innovative technology. Knowing that my work helps protect our communities and creates a healthier environment makes this career incredibly rewarding.”
Jerome
Assistant Supervisor
B
“I like my job in construction for a water utility because I get to work with my hands and see real results from what I build every day. I also enjoy working as part of a team that solves problems and keeps essential systems running smoothly.”
BJ
Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission
D
“I love working in water treatment because I take pride in knowing that I play a small part in providing clean, safe drinking water to the community.”
Devin
Water Treatment Operator
J
“Throughout history, all over the world, the focal point of civilization has revolved around water. Today, water remains the same necessity it has always been. That is why I find water treatment so rewarding. I get to provide a resource in the form of clean drinking water that is needed by all, and get to do it at a very unique place, the Stovall Water Treatment Plant.”
JD
Water Treatment Operator
Why this site exists
Water utilities are good at their work. We haven’t always been great at telling people about it. Most people never think about where their water comes from or where it goes after it goes down the drain, and they don’t know there’s a whole workforce of people making sure it works, every single day.
SC Water Careers is a project of the SC Water Workforce Collaborative, a group of water and wastewater utilities across South Carolina working together to help people find these careers, and help utilities find the people they need.
WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE MEMBERS
