Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in California

Ranked #1 of 50 · CA

39.4% above U.S. average
Mean annual salary $87,190 ≈ $42/hr
Median annual salary $81,770
Employment 11,630

Salary Distribution (10th–90th percentile)

P10 $56,030P25 $65,250 Median $81,770P75 $103,550P90 $123,380

About 80% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operatorss in California earn between $56,030 and $123,380. The blue band is the middle 50% (P25–P75); the dot marks the median.

Compared to the U.S.

California
$87,190
U.S. average
$62,540

The mean water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in California is $87,190, about 39.4% above the U.S. average ($62,540). That works out to roughly $42/hr at 2,080 hours per year.

Metro Areas in California

Metro areaMedianMeanEmployment
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $125,160 $116,800 1,040
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $108,190 $106,990 460
Vallejo, CA $106,150 $99,500 200
Napa, CA $101,540 $97,320 100
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $94,060 $90,680 80
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $85,960 $88,190 250
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $85,950 $89,620 1,010
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $83,190 $82,800 200

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in California?

The median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in California is $81,770 per year (mean $87,190), and about 80% earn between $56,030 and $123,380.

How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make per hour in California?

Roughly $42 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $87,190 and 2,080 work hours per year.

Is California a high-paying state for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?

California ranks #1 of 50 states for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay. Its mean salary of $87,190 is about 39.4% above the U.S. average of $62,540.

Which metro areas in California pay water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators the most?

The highest-paying metro areas in California for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($125,160), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,190), Vallejo, CA ($106,150), by median annual wage.

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