Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in California
In California, the median pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is $39.31 an hour ($81,770 a year). About 11,630 people work in this job there.
That is 36% higher than the U.S. median ($60,020). California ranks 1st of 50 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $26.94 | $56,030 |
| 25% of workers | $31.37 | $65,250 |
| Half of workers (median) | $39.31 | $81,770 |
| 75% of workers | $49.78 | $103,550 |
| 90% of workers | $59.32 | $123,380 |
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $125,160 | 1,040 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $108,190 | 460 |
| Vallejo | $106,150 | 200 |
| Napa | $101,540 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $94,060 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $85,960 | 250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $85,950 | 1,010 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $83,190 | 200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $82,780 | 1,580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $82,460 | 2,230 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $82,200 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $81,600 | 280 |
| Chico | $80,360 | 100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $79,630 | 880 |
| Modesto | $78,710 | 210 |
| Yuba City | $78,520 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $78,350 | 320 |
| Salinas | $77,920 | 190 |
| Redding | $77,550 | 90 |
| Merced | $76,790 | 110 |
| Visalia | $76,580 | 190 |
| El Centro | $74,790 | 100 |
| Fresno | $67,260 | 400 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $64,640 | 460 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $64,320 | 60 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Long-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -5.7% over ten years, declining · about 10,000 openings a year (BLS)
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.