Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $139,050 or more. The middle half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in San Jose earn between $83,260 and $128,990.
- $63K10th
- $83K25th
- $108KMedian
- $129K75th
- $139K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,990 | $8,916 | $51.44 |
| Median | $108,190 | $9,016 | $52.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,260 | $6,938 | $40.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,990 | $10,749 | $62.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in San Jose earn 23% more than the California average ($87,190) and 71% more than the U.S. average ($62,540). At the median the gap is +80% against the U.S. median of $60,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $106,990 | $108,190 | $63,150 | $139,050 | 460 |
| California | $87,190 | $81,770 | $56,030 | $123,380 | 11,630 |
| United States | $62,540 | $60,020 | $39,110 | $91,060 | 128,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $106,990, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $78,239 a year, or $6,520 a month and $3,009 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $106,990 buys what about $96,891 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 2nd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($116,800).
- San Francisco$116,800
- San Jose$106,990
- Vallejo$99,500
- Napa$97,320
- Santa Cruz$90,680
- Sacramento$89,620
- Santa Maria$88,190
- Salinas$87,210
- Los Angeles$86,460
- Riverside$85,310
All Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($116,800).
- San Francisco, CA$116,800
- San Jose, CA$106,990
- Vallejo, CA$99,500
- Napa, CA$97,320
- Fairbanks, AK$93,870
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by city
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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in San Jose: questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make an hour in San Jose?
$51.44 an hour on average, and $52.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators take-home pay in San Jose?
About $78,239 a year ($6,520 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,990. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 71% more than the U.S. average for this job ($62,540).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8031; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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