How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make in San Diego?
Median yearly pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $38.28 an hour or $6,636 a month.
- Hourly
- $38.28
- Vs. national median
- +33%
- Rank among cities
- 31 of 367
- Jobs in the area
- 880
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,390 | $29.51 | |
| 25th | $70,000 | $33.65 | |
| Median | $79,630 | $38.28 | |
| 75th | $102,800 | $49.41 | |
| 90th | $108,000 | $51.93 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators.
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in San Diego, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $38.28 ($79,630 a year).
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $79,630 against $60,020 nationally, 33% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $81,770, so San Diego pays 3% less.
Where does San Diego rank for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator pay?
31 of 367 metro areas with data.
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $61,390 or less a year; the top 10% make $108,000 or more.
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.