Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Merced, CA
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $76,790 a year ($36.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,180 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $60,020. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $81,770. There are 1.3 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $72,340, close to the median.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| 25th percentile | $55,150 | $26.51 |
| Median | $76,790 | $36.92 |
| 75th percentile | $81,280 | $39.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,180 | $46.72 |
| Average (mean) | $72,340 | $34.78 |
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 | $6,399.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,199.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,953.46 |
| Weekly | $1,476.73 |
| Hourly | $36.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $76,790 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 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,580 | 190 |
| El Centro, CA | $74,790 | 100 |
| Fresno, CA | $67,260 | 400 |
| 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 Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,490 | $37.74 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $61,920 | $29.77 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Food Batchmaker | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $63,550 | $30.56 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| Baker | $42,900 | $20.63 |
| Printing Press Operator | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $47,540 | $22.86 |
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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Merced, CA metro area is $76,790 a year, or $36.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $97,180 a year. The top 25% earn $81,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,720 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $55,150 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in Merced, CA?
About 110 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.