The median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in California is $82,100 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $86,500.
Pay spans roughly $52,510 at the 10th percentile to $123,870 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $39.47 per hour. An estimated 11,260 people work as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in California.
| Median (annual) | $82,100 |
| Mean (annual) | $86,500 |
| Median (hourly) | $39.47 |
| 10th percentile | $52,510 |
| 90th percentile | $123,870 |
| Employment | 11,260 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.