Water Quality Analyst
Snapshot
Water quality analysts safeguard the quality of water through scientific analysis, ensuring quality and safety standards are met. They take samples of the water and perform laboratory tests, and develop purification procedures so it can serve as drinking water, for irrigation purposes, and other water supply purposes.
Water quality analysts are essential for safeguarding public health and environmental sustainability. Your work involves collecting water samples from diverse sources – rivers, lakes, groundwater, and wastewater treatment plants – and meticulously analyzing them in a laboratory setting. You’ll use scientific methods and equipment to identify pollutants, assess water quality parameters, and ensure adherence to established standards. This role often requires careful documentation, data interpretation, and the development of strategies to improve water quality.
- • Collecting water samples using standardized protocols.
- • Performing laboratory tests to measure physical, chemical, and biological parameters.
- • Analyzing data and preparing detailed reports on water quality findings.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Denmark, Netherlands.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $100,840 2025-05 | +5% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2022 * | — | +35.5% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Shortage reported Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £37,949 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for water quality analyst
The outlook for water quality analyst reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could water quality analyst change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- use personal protection equipment
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- interpret scientific data to assess water quality
- test chemical samples
- perform water chemistry analysis
Tasks most exposed to automation
- record test data
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Healthcare & Human Services
A typical day as a water quality analyst
09 09:00 · Morning interpret scientific data to assess water quality
10 10:30 · Mid-morning collect samples
12 12:00 · Midday measure water quality parameters
14 14:00 · Afternoon perform water chemistry analysis
15 15:30 · Late afternoon develop water purification methods
17 17:00 · Wrap-up perform laboratory tests
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
-
collect samples
Set up and operate equipment to collect water, gas, oil or soil samples for testing.
-
prepare chemical samples
Prepare the specific samples such as gas, liquid or solid samples in order for them to be ready for analysis, labeling and storing samples according to specifications.
-
test chemical samples
Perform the testing procedures on the already prepared chemical samples, by using the necessary equipment and materials. Chemical sample testing involves operations such as pipetting or diluting schemes.
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perform water chemistry analysis
Perform water chemistry analysis to identify and quantify the chemical components and properties of water samples.
-
interpret scientific data to assess water quality
Analyse and interpret data like biological properties to know the quality of water.
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perform laboratory tests
Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.
-
measure water quality parameters
Quality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.
-
record test data
Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
-
use personal protection equipment
Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
-
develop water purification methods
Develop strategies for the development and use of water purification equipment and plans, by aiding in the design of equipment, planning purification procedures, and identifying the necessary actions and potential risks.
-
perform water testing procedures
Conduct testing procedures on water quality, such as pH tests and dissolved solids. Understand instrumentation drawings.
chemical processes
The relevant chemical processes used in manufacture, such as purification, seperation, emulgation and dispergation processing.
water chemistry analysis
Principles of complex water chemistry.
botany
The taxonomy or classification of plant life, phylogeny and evolution, anatomy and morphology, and physiology.
microbiology-bacteriology
Microbiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- laboratory techniques
- environmental legislation
- fish identification and classification
- pollution prevention
- water policies
- water reuse
Path to become a water quality analyst
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
405 programmes in 28 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 47 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Master of Science in Freshwater Quality, Monitoring and Assessment
University College Cork · Ireland
Postgraduate Diploma in Freshwater Quality Monitoring and Assessment
University College Cork · Ireland
Hydrology
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · the Netherlands
Water Management for Climate Adaptation
Universiteit Utrecht · the Netherlands
Certificate in Drinking Water Treatment Operations
Atlantic Technological University · Ireland
These are 6 of 452.
Sources
- 1. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 2. Bron: DUO open onderwijsdata
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does water quality analyst fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of scientific background is typically needed to become a water quality analyst?
Are there opportunities for freelance work in this field?
What kind of work environment can I expect as a water quality analyst?
How much does Water Quality Analyst pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data