Water and drainage technicians work alongside civil engineers and help to design and build water supply, waste disposal and drainage networks for construction and major infrastructure projects.
Many staff begin their careers in this field as an apprentice with a civil engineering firm or construction contractor. Employers usually look for people with at least four good GCSEs, including maths, for these junior roles, which pay in the region of £12,000 a year.
Employers also take on slightly more senior trainees who have studied for a relevant qualification, such as a degree, HND or BTEC national certificate in civil engineering. Starting salaries for these positions range from £15,000 to £19,000.
There are lots of employment opportunities available for experienced water and drainage technicians, as local councils and civil engineering, construction and utilities companies need them. They typically earn between £25,000 and £35,000 a year, but senior technicians with management responsibilities can expect to be paid in excess of £40,000.
Employers tend to use specialist civil engineering and construction recruitment agencies to find staff, so many of the best jobs are unadvertised. Companies can also use agencies to find experienced staff for short term contracts to work on projects that require specialist skills.