San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority water operator salary, 2025
San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority is a joint powers authority in Merced County: a public agency that two or more public agencies set up by agreement to run a shared service.1 8 people worked as water operators for San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $171,199, overtime included.
What is the average water operator salary at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority?
Official pay range2
$126,612 to $148,955
from the lowest entry salary to the top of the highest water operator title
Based on the 7 of 8 water operators who worked the full year.
Most of San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority's water operators (8 of 8) hold the title Control Operator, with an official range of $126,612 to $148,955. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $171,199, $22,244 above the top of the range.
- Median total pay
- $174,507
- the middle water operator: half earned more, half less
- Overtime
- $17,994
- average per full-year water operator
- Starting salary
- $126,612
- bottom of the Control Operator range
- Average pay rank
- 8th
- of 300 California employers
What does each water operator title at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority pay?
Each bar is the official range for one title, lowest first. The dot marks the average total pay of full-year staff in that title, where at least 5 people stand behind it.2
- Control Operator$171,199
official range average total pay, full year. "Fewer than 5" means too few full-year people in that title to show.
Does San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority pay water operators more than other employers in Merced County?
Average total pay of full-year water operators: San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority next to every employer in the county together, and the whole state.2
- San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority$171,199
- All employers in Merced County$88,344
- All employers in California$123,726
Full-year water operators at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority earned $82,855 more than the Merced County average and $47,473 more than the California average.
Average water operator pay in Merced County compared to nearby counties
Average total pay of full-year water operators across all employers in each county that borders Merced County, and how much more or less it pays.2
- Santa Clara County$157,077 average, 6 employers$68,733 more than Merced County
- San Benito County$110,416 average, 1 employer$22,072 more than Merced County
- Stanislaus County$95,852 average, 11 employers$7,508 more than Merced County
- Madera County$93,435 average, 1 employer$5,091 more than Merced County
- Fresno County$84,775 average, 8 employers$3,569 less than Merced County
- Mariposa CountyNo employerNo water operator employer in Mariposa County has a page here.
Where does San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority rank among California employers?
Every employer with at least 5 full-year water operators, by average total pay.2
All 300 California employers
San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority ranks 8th of 300, above the middle employer.
Middle employer: $116,210
Each bar counts the employers whose average total pay falls in a $5,000 band. The dashed line marks the middle employer.
Pension and health cover at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority
As reported by the agency. Contributions are what the employer paid per full-year water operator, on top of wages.2
- Pension formula
- Not reported
- the most common formula among San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority's water operators
- Employer pension contribution
- Not reported
- average per year
- Health, dental and vision
- $22,297
- average paid by the employer per year
Questions about water operator pay at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority
What is the average water operator salary at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority?
Water operators at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority who worked the full year earned an average of $171,199 in 2025, overtime included. The middle water operator earned $174,507: half earned more, half less. The official pay range across its water operator titles runs from $126,612 to $148,955.
How much overtime do water operators at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority earn?
Full-year water operators were paid an average of $17,994 in overtime in 2025. The middle one was paid $18,048: a few people with a lot of overtime pull the average up.
More salaries in Merced County
- Merced$81,994 average total pay
- Atwater$60,374 average total pay
- San Luis Water District$54,021 average total pay
- Dos Paloswater operator pay
- Livingstonwater operator pay
- Highest water operator salaries in CaliforniaThe best-paying employers, ranked
- Teacher salaries in Merced CountyEvery school district's salary schedule
Sources for the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority figures
Every person who held a water operator position at San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority at any point in 2025 counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only 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. Averages lead; the median total pay is the middle person's, with half above and half below, and is less pulled by a few people with very high pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people.
- California Government Code, section 6502: public agencies may jointly exercise their common powers by agreement.
- State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages, pension formula and employer contributions as reported by San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority.