Highest Water Operator Salaries in California, 2025

Where do water operators earn the most in California?

The 25 employers with the highest average total pay of full-year water and wastewater operators, overtime included.

Highest average total pay

Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaWater district in Los Angeles County
59 full-year operators$209,366
Alameda County Water DistrictWater district in Alameda County
10 full-year operators$208,245
Santa Clara Valley Water DistrictWater agency in Santa Clara County
37 full-year operators$198,541
Contra Costa Water DistrictWater district in Contra Costa County
25 full-year operators$185,412
Santa Clarita Valley Water AgencyWater agency in Los Angeles County
9 full-year operators$181,692
West County Wastewater District (Contra Costa)Sanitary district in Contra Costa County
6 full-year operators$181,073
South San Joaquin Irrigation DistrictIrrigation district in San Joaquin County
8 full-year operators$173,660
San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water AuthorityJoint powers authority in Merced County
7 full-year operators$171,199
Sonoma CountyCounty government
13 full-year operators$170,560
Mountain ViewCity in Santa Clara County
11 full-year operators$168,369
Silicon Valley Clean WaterJoint powers authority in San Mateo County
12 full-year operators$167,559
East Bay Municipal Utility DistrictUtility district in Alameda County
114 full-year operators$166,840
TracyCity in San Joaquin County
17 full-year operators$165,176
Alameda CountyCounty government
18 full-year operators$164,851
San FranciscoCity government
178 full-year operators$164,802
East Valley Water DistrictWater district in San Bernardino County
13 full-year operators$164,332
PasadenaCity in Los Angeles County
10 full-year operators$163,409
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Contra Costa)Sanitary district in Contra Costa County
28 full-year operators$163,134
South Coast Water DistrictWater district in Orange County
6 full-year operators$163,062
Calleguas Municipal Water DistrictWater district in Ventura County
5 full-year operators$160,203
Union Sanitary District (Alameda)Sanitary district in Alameda County
36 full-year operators$158,954
Inland Empire Utilities AgencyWater district in San Bernardino County
41 full-year operators$158,715
San LeandroCity in Alameda County
11 full-year operators$158,180
North Marin Water DistrictWater district in Marin County
7 full-year operators$157,698
Delta DiabloSanitation district in Contra Costa County
17 full-year operators$156,717

Highest water operator base pay in California

Average base pay of full-year operators, without overtime and other pay: closer to what the job pays for a regular schedule.

Highest average base pay

Which California employers pay new water operators the most?

The bottom of the official pay range for each employer's lowest-paid operator title, often a trainee or level I title, as reported.

Highest starting salary

Where do California water operators earn the most overtime?

Average overtime paid to full-year operators in 2025. A few people with a lot of overtime can pull an employer's average up.

Highest average overtime

Do water treatment or wastewater operators earn more in California?

Across all employers, full-year operators averaged $140,689 in water treatment, $134,462 in wastewater treatment, $115,242 in water and wastewater, $110,078 in water distribution, $109,459 in water system and $108,096 in wastewater collection. Water system means operator titles that name the water system without saying treatment or distribution.

Water treatment operators: $140,689; average total pay, 1,058 full-year
Wastewater treatment operators: $134,462; average total pay, 2,026 full-year
Water and wastewater operators: $115,242; average total pay, 89 full-year
Water distribution operators: $110,078; average total pay, 849 full-year
Water system operators: $109,459; average total pay, 738 full-year
Wastewater collection operators: $108,096; average total pay, 849 full-year

Do cities or water districts pay operators more in California?

By the middle employer's average total pay: $138,759 for sanitary and sanitation districts (26 employers), $134,600 for joint powers authorities (14 employers), $128,701 for water districts and agencies (64 employers), $110,537 for cities (148 employers) and $101,388 for community services districts (13 employers). Of the 25 best-paying employers, 10 are water districts and agencies, 5 cities, 4 sanitary and sanitation districts and 2 joint powers authorities.

Sanitary and sanitation districts: $138,759; middle employer's average, of 26; 4 in the top 25
Joint powers authorities: $134,600; middle employer's average, of 14; 2 in the top 25
Water districts and agencies: $128,701; middle employer's average, of 64; 10 in the top 25
Cities: $110,537; middle employer's average, of 148; 5 in the top 25
Community services districts: $101,388; middle employer's average, of 13; 0 in the top 25

Which California counties pay water operators the most?

Average total pay of full-year operators across every employer in the county, for the 48 counties with at least 5 of them. The dashed line marks the California average of $123,726.

San Francisco$164,802
Alameda$159,204
Santa Clara$157,077
Contra Costa$147,253
Solano$141,727
Los Angeles$137,809
San Mateo$135,913
Marin$132,983
Orange$128,661
Monterey$126,404
Sacramento$125,670
Napa$125,389
Riverside$123,980
San Diego$121,806
Santa Barbara$120,906
San Joaquin$119,442
Yolo$118,251
Santa Cruz$116,974
San Bernardino$116,908
Sonoma$115,270
Amador$114,955
El Dorado$113,003
Ventura$111,636
Placer$110,638

San Benito$110,416
Butte$106,836
Shasta$105,034
Nevada$102,393
Sutter$100,089
Kern$99,167
Stanislaus$95,852
San Luis Obispo$95,785
Yuba$95,163
Calaveras$95,105
Tuolumne$93,492
Madera$93,435
Mendocino$93,134
Imperial$91,511
Merced$88,344
Mono$87,319
Fresno$84,775
Lake$84,341
Colusa$80,214
Tehama$78,279
Tulare$73,175
Kings$71,603
Lassen$71,372
Humboldt$69,682

The highest-paying employer for water operators in each California county

By average total pay of full-year operators, among the county's employers with at least 5 of them.

Alameda CountyAlameda County Water District$208,245highest of 10
Amador CountyAmador Water Agency$118,272only employer with an average
Butte CountyParadise Irrigation District$129,567highest of 4
Calaveras CountyCalaveras County Water District$100,832highest of 2
Contra Costa CountyContra Costa Water District$185,412highest of 13
El Dorado CountySouth Tahoe Public Utility District$117,933highest of 3
Fresno CountyFresno$88,445highest of 5
Humboldt CountyArcata$73,321highest of 2
Imperial CountyCalexico$102,601highest of 5
Kern CountyAntelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency$137,891highest of 10
Kings CountyHanford$71,947highest of 3
Lake CountyClearlake Oaks Water District$98,742highest of 3
Los Angeles CountyMetropolitan Water District of Southern California$209,366highest of 26
Madera CountyMadera County$93,435only employer with an average
Marin CountyNorth Marin Water District$157,698highest of 8
Mendocino CountyUkiah$104,035highest of 3
Merced CountySan Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority$171,199highest of 4
Mono CountyMammoth Community Water District$121,880only employer with an average
Monterey CountyMonterey One Water$150,308highest of 5
Napa CountySt. Helena$151,859highest of 5
Nevada CountyNevada County$107,052highest of 2
Orange CountySouth Coast Water District$163,062highest of 19
Placer CountySan Juan Water District$130,429highest of 4
Riverside CountyCorona$146,046highest of 14
Sacramento CountySacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer)$150,278highest of 11
San Benito CountyHollister$101,518only employer with an average
San Bernardino CountyEast Valley Water District$164,332highest of 23
San Diego CountySanta Fe Irrigation District$138,984highest of 20
San Francisco CountySan Francisco$164,802only employer with an average
San Joaquin CountySouth San Joaquin Irrigation District$173,660highest of 7
San Luis Obispo CountySan Luis Obispo$104,271highest of 7
San Mateo CountySilicon Valley Clean Water$167,559highest of 11
Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara$137,827highest of 10
Santa Clara CountySanta Clara Valley Water District$198,541highest of 5
Santa Cruz CountyScotts Valley Water District$136,439highest of 6
Shasta CountyRedding$115,637highest of 3
Solano CountyVallejo$154,514highest of 7
Sonoma CountySonoma County$170,560highest of 7
Stanislaus CountyModesto Irrigation District$145,059highest of 8
Tehama CountyRed Bluff$75,395only employer with an average
Tulare CountyVisalia$97,330highest of 2
Tuolumne CountyTuolumne Utilities District$90,498highest of 2
Ventura CountyCalleguas Municipal Water District$160,203highest of 11
Yolo CountyWoodland$130,272highest of 3
Yuba CountyOlivehurst Public Utility District$100,485only employer with an average

Questions about the highest water operator salaries in California

Which California employer pays water operators the most?

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where full-year operators earned an average of $209,366 in 2025, overtime included. Alameda County Water District ($208,245) and Santa Clara Valley Water District ($198,541) follow.

Where do new water operators earn the most in California?

The highest starting salary, the bottom of the official range for the lowest-paid operator title, is at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority: $126,612. Alameda County Water District ($119,440) and San Francisco ($119,366) follow.

Where do water treatment operators earn the most in California?

At Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where full-year water treatment operators earned an average of $209,366 in 2025. Alameda County Water District ($208,245) and Contra Costa Water District ($194,674) follow.

Where do wastewater treatment operators earn the most in California?

At West County Wastewater District (Contra Costa), where full-year wastewater treatment operators earned an average of $181,073 in 2025. East Valley Water District ($179,113) and Hayward ($171,029) follow.

Where do water and wastewater operators earn the most in California?

At Daly City, where full-year water and wastewater operators earned an average of $194,749 in 2025. Dublin San Ramon Services District ($153,950) and Calaveras County Water District ($100,832) follow.

Where do water distribution operators earn the most in California?

At East Bay Municipal Utility District, where full-year water distribution operators earned an average of $177,183 in 2025. North Marin Water District ($157,698) and Eastern Municipal Water District ($145,586) follow.

Where do water system operators earn the most in California?

At Santa Clara Valley Water District, where full-year water system operators earned an average of $233,768 in 2025. Anaheim ($175,875) and San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority ($171,199) follow.

Where do wastewater collection operators earn the most in California?

At San Francisco, where full-year wastewater collection operators earned an average of $159,870 in 2025. Union Sanitary District (Alameda) ($150,566) and Mountain View ($150,006) follow.

Which California county pays water operators the most?

San Francisco County, where full-year operators across all employers earned an average of $164,802, followed by Alameda County ($159,204) and Santa Clara County ($157,077).

Sources for the California water operator rankings

Pay figures cover people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people. Starting salaries are the bottom of each employer's official range for its entry title, as reported. Rankings and medians are our own arithmetic on these figures.

State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges and wages as reported by each city, county and special district.

How we read the data

Highest water operator salaries in California, by employer, 2025