Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Fresno, CA
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median of $67,260 a year ($32.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 400 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,830 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $60,020. Pay here is 18% lower than the California statewide median of $81,770. There are 0.84 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $70,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Fresno, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,890 | $22.54 |
| 25th percentile | $56,360 | $27.10 |
| Median | $67,260 | $32.34 |
| 75th percentile | $79,850 | $38.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,830 | $48.96 |
| Average (mean) | $70,660 | $33.97 |
Half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,605 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,802.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,586.92 |
| Weekly | $1,293.46 |
| Hourly | $32.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $67,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,160 | 1,040 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,190 | 460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,150 | 200 |
| Napa, CA | $101,540 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $94,060 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,960 | 250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $85,950 | 1,010 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $83,190 | 200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $82,780 | 1,580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,460 | 2,230 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $82,200 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $81,600 | 280 |
| Chico, CA | $80,360 | 100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,630 | 880 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,710 | 210 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,520 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $78,350 | 320 |
| Salinas, CA | $77,920 | 190 |
| Redding, CA | $77,550 | 90 |
| Merced, CA | $76,790 | 110 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,580 | 190 |
| El Centro, CA | $74,790 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $64,640 | 460 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,320 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $81,770 |
| Nevada | $81,440 |
| Washington | $80,800 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 |
| Colorado | $74,200 |
| Oregon | $69,720 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 |
| Illinois | $67,810 |
See Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fresno, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $138,930 | $66.80 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $87,140 | $41.89 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $67,180 | $32.30 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,340 | $20.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Baker | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,540 | $19.49 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $36,280 | $17.44 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Fresno, CA?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Fresno, CA metro area is $67,260 a year, or $32.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Fresno, CA?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Fresno, CA metro area earn at least $101,830 a year. The top 25% earn $79,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Fresno, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,890 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $56,360 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in Fresno, CA?
About 400 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in the Fresno, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.