How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make in California?
$81,770a year
Median yearly pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in California. That is $39.31 an hour or $6,814 a month.
- Hourly
- $39.31
- Vs. national median
- +36%
- Rank among states
- 1 of 50
- Jobs in the state
- 11,630
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $56,030Median: $81,770Highest 10%: $123,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,030 | $26.94 | |
| 25th | $65,250 | $31.37 | |
| Median | $81,770 | $39.31 | |
| 75th | $103,600 | $49.78 | |
| 90th | $123,400 | $59.32 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $125,200 |
| San Jose, CA | $108,200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,200 |
| Napa, CA | $101,500 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $94,060 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $85,960 |
| Sacramento, CA | $85,950 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $83,190 |
| Riverside, CA | $82,780 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $82,460 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $82,200 |
| Stockton, CA | $81,600 |
| Chico, CA | $80,360 |
| San Diego, CA | $79,630 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,710 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,520 |
| Oxnard, CA | $78,350 |
| Salinas, CA | $77,920 |
| Redding, CA | $77,550 |
| Merced, CA | $76,790 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,580 |
| El Centro, CA | $74,790 |
| Fresno, CA | $67,260 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $64,640 |
| Hanford, CA | $64,320 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators.
| 1. California | $81,770 |
| 2. Nevada | $81,440 |
| 3. Washington | $80,800 |
| 4. Connecticut | $78,820 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $39.31 ($81,770 a year).
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $81,770 against $60,020 nationally, 36% more.
Where does California rank for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator pay?
California ranks 1 of 50 states.
Which city in California pays water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $125,200 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.