The　continuous　wavelet　transform　(CWT)　is　one　of　the　crucial　damage　identification　tools　in　the　vibration-based　damage　assessment.　Because　of　the　vanishing　moment　property,　the　CWT　method　is　capable　of　featuring　damage　singularity　in　the　higher　scales,　and　separating　the　global　trends　and　noise　progressively.　In　the　classical　investigations　about　this　issue,　the　localization　property　of　the　CWT　is　usually　deemed　as　the　most　critical　point.　The　abundant　information　provided　by　the　scale-domain　information　and　the　corresponding　effectiveness　are,　however,　neglected　to　some　extent.　Ultimately,　this　neglect　restricts　the　sufficient　application　of　the　CWT　method　in　damage　localization,　especially　in　noisy　conditions.　In　order　to　address　this　problem,　the　wavelet　correlation　operator　is　introduced　into　the　CWT　damage　detection　method　as　a　post-processing.　By　means　of　the　correlations　among　different　scales,　the　proposed　operator　suppresses　noise,　cancels　global　trends,　and　intensifies　the　damage　features　for　various　mode　shapes.　The　proposed　method　is　demonstrated　numerically　with　emphasis　on　characterizing　damage　in　noisy　environments,　where　the　wavelet　scale　Teager-Kaiser　energy　operator　is　taken　as　the　benchmark　method　for　comparison.　Experimental　validations　are　conducted　based　on　the　benchmark　data　from　composite　beam　specimens　measured　by　a　scanning　laser　vibrometer.　Numerical　and　experimental　validations/comparisons　present　that　the　introduction　of　wavelet　correlation　operator　is　effective　for　damage　localization　in　noisy　conditions.