Director

Water and Hydroelectric Services Director

You lead the water and hydroelectric services function for a utility, agency, or institution — overseeing the operation, maintenance, and strategic direction of water supply, treatment, and hydroelectric assets. Half operations executive, half senior infrastructure professional.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
C
E
I
S
A
Realistichands-on, practical
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Water and Hydroelectric Services Directors
Employment concentration · ~372 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Water and Hydroelectric Services Director

Most days tend to involve a blend of operational reviews, capital project oversight, and external coordination with regulators, downstream users, and government partners. You'll often spend part of the time on strategic priorities — capital planning, environmental compliance, technology adoption — and part on the operational fabric of running long-lived infrastructure assets.

The hardest part is often operating across the technical, environmental, and regulatory complexity of water and hydro systems combined with multi-decade horizons. You'll typically navigate the political dimensions of decisions that affect water supply, environmental conditions, and energy generation simultaneously, where any of those can become public concerns.

People who tend to thrive here are technically grounded, regulatory-literate, and patient with long-cycle infrastructure work. The trade-off is the regulatory exposure and the cumulative weight of stewarding systems that affect both energy and water security. If you find satisfaction in leading infrastructure that operates for generations, this role can be a strong destination in utility leadership.

AchievementHigh
Working ConditionsHigh
RecognitionAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
RelationshipsModerate
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Water and Hydroelectric Services Directors (SOC 11-3051.06), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Water and Hydroelectric Services Director career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$75K–$197K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
234K
U.S. Employment
+1.9%
10yr Growth
17K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringReading ComprehensionTime ManagementManagement of Personnel ResourcesCritical ThinkingLearning StrategiesActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-3051.06

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.