Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 10,620 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
10,620
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
10.62
workers
Location Quotient
4.34
vs national avg
Average Salary
$81K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 4.34 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
10,620
National: 120,040
8.8% of national
Jobs per 1,000
10.62
National: 2.45
+333.5%
Average Salary
$81K
National: $57K
+42.5%

Top States by Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Employment

#1
10,770
10,770
employed
#2
10,620
10,620
employed
#3
7,330
7,330
employed
#4
5,580
5,580
employed
#5
5,200
5,200
employed
#6
5,030
5,030
employed
#7
4,470
4,470
employed
#8
3,890
3,890
employed
#9
3,280
3,280
employed
#10
3,220
3,220
employed

What Does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in California is $81,510. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 10,620 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators jobs (LQ: 4.34). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in California?

The average (mean) salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in California is $81510/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals?

The top state for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators employment is Texas with 10,770 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (SOC 518031) in California.

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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary After-Tax Take-Home Pay Cost of Living Adjusted Entry-Level vs Senior Salary Hourly Wage Employment Outlook
Rankings
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