The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in California is around $81,770 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $81,770.
Wages typically start from $56,030 and go up to $123,380.
7% above national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$59.32 per hour
$123,380 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$49.78 per hour
$103,550 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$39.31 per hour
$81,770 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$31.37 per hour
$65,250 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$26.94 per hour
$56,030 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Water treatment plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $81,770 |
| Nevada | $81,440 |
| Washington | $80,800 |
| District of Columbia | $78,890 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 |
| Colorado | $74,200 |
| Oregon | $69,720 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 |
| Illinois | $67,810 |
| Hawaii | $65,560 |
| Delaware | $64,940 |
| New York | $63,990 |
| Vermont | $63,640 |
| Wisconsin | $63,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 |
| Wyoming | $63,260 |
| New Hampshire | $62,940 |
| Maryland | $61,870 |
| Maine | $61,870 |
| Rhode Island | $61,820 |
| Arizona | $61,340 |
| Utah | $61,290 |
| Nebraska | $61,220 |
| Iowa | $60,990 |
| North Dakota | $60,470 |
| Alaska | $60,160 |
| Virginia | $59,420 |
| Michigan | $59,270 |
| Ohio | $59,170 |
| Florida | $59,030 |
| Montana | $58,040 |
| Indiana | $53,540 |
| South Dakota | $53,370 |
| Idaho | $52,210 |
| South Carolina | $52,090 |
| Alabama | $51,870 |
| North Carolina | $51,680 |
| Tennessee | $50,670 |
| Missouri | $49,940 |
| Texas | $49,460 |
| Georgia | $48,930 |
| New Mexico | $48,190 |
| Guam | $47,610 |
| West Virginia | $47,560 |
| Kansas | $46,780 |
| Mississippi | $46,480 |
| Louisiana | $46,210 |
| Oklahoma | $45,890 |
| Kentucky | $45,430 |
| Arkansas | $44,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,910 |
How do water treatment plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Water treatment plant operators earn 6% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than boilermakers but more than sheet metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Boilermaker salary | $118K |
| Petroleum pump system operator salary | $103K |
| Commercial diver salary | $102K |
| Avionics technician salary | $92K |
| Rigger salary | $86K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $82K |
| Crane operator salary | $80K |
| Marine electrician salary | $85K |
| Electrician salary | $76K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $77K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)