Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in California
State wage data from the BLS OEWS survey, May 2025.
Median annual
$81,770
Median hourly
$39
Average annual
$87,190
Employed in state
12K
The median annual salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in California is $81,770, or about $39 an hour. That is 36% higher than the national median.
Pay in California ranges from $56,030 at the 10th percentile to $123,380 at the 90th percentile. Roughly 12K people work as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the state.
Pay distribution in California
10th$56,030
25th$65,250
Median$81,770
75th$103,550
90th$123,380
Salary calculator
- Hourly
- $39.31
- Daily
- $315
- Weekly
- $1,573
- Bi-weekly
- $3,145
- Monthly
- $6,814
- Annual
- $81,770
$81,770 a year is around the 50th percentile for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operatorss in California. The median is $81,770.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,160 | 1.0K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,190 | 460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,150 | 200 |
| Napa, CA | $101,540 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $94,060 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,960 | 250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $85,950 | 1.0K |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $83,190 | 200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $82,780 | 1.6K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,460 | 2.2K |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $82,200 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $81,600 | 280 |
| Chico, CA | $80,360 | 100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,630 | 880 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,710 | 210 |
Other jobs in California
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
- Retail Salespersons$35,410
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Registered Nurses$97,550
- Cashiers$32,880
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- General and Operations Managers$105,770
- Software Developers$135,980
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Security Guards$38,020
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Accountants and Auditors$83,680
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$69,990