How To Become A Water Jet Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a water jet operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a water jet operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $16.83 an hour? That's $35,007 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -7% and produce -8,600 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreWater Jet OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $35,007

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.6

Growth Rate -7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.29%

Asian 1.84%

Black or African American 7.70%

Hispanic or Latino 12.51%

Unknown 4.48%

White 71.18%

Gender

female 8.84%

male 91.16%

Age - 47.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47.5

Stress Level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.2

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.8

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a water jet operator

Explore water jet operator education requirements

Most common water jet operator degrees

High School Diploma

44.3 %

Associate

20.8 %

Diploma

14.0 %

Start to develop specific water jet operator skills

Skills	Percentages
CNC Machines	17.25%
Calipers	14.94%
Hand Tools	14.64%
Tape Measure	10.82%
Cranes	10.73%

Complete relevant water jet operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New water jet operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a water jet operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real water jet operator resumes.

Research water jet operator duties and responsibilities

Used Omax machine to cut parts to fill orders, handle material, certify as a forklift operator.
Update and sign-off on job tickets at the conclusion of each job.Skills UsedDirect mail experience or knowledge of USPS regulations.
Perform preventative maintenance and troubleshooting of Omax machine.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.

Prepare your water jet operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your water jet operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a water jet operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Water Jet Operator Resume templates

Build a professional Water Jet Operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Water Jet Operator resume.

Apply for water jet operator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a water jet operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do water jet operators rate their job?