SOC 51-8031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
In California the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators reaches $81,770 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In California the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators reaches $81,770 a year. That is 36.2% more than the national median of $60,020. Pay ranges from under $56,030 at the tenth percentile to more than $123,380 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $65,250 to $103,550.
Employment stands at 11,630, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 1st out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $125,160. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 299th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,030 | −6.6% |
| 25th | $65,250 | +8.7% |
| Median (50th) | $81,770 | +36.2% |
| 75th | $103,550 | +72.5% |
| 90th | $123,380 | +105.6% |
| Mean | $87,190 | +45.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $125,160 | 1,040 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $108,190 | 460 | |
| 3 | Vallejo | $106,150 | 200 | |
| 4 | Napa | $101,540 | 100 | |
| 5 | Santa Cruz | $94,060 | 80 | |
| 6 | Santa Maria | $85,960 | 250 | |
| 7 | Sacramento | $85,950 | 1,010 | |
| 8 | San Luis Obispo | $83,190 | 200 | |
| 9 | Riverside | $82,780 | 1,580 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $82,460 | 2,230 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $81,770 buys what $73,866 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 23.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,866US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,770 a year, 36.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $56,030 to $123,380 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 11,630 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $125,160.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in California?
The median annual wage is $81,770, or $39.31 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $60,020, so pay in California is 36.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $123,380 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $56,030 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $125,160 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 11,630 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data