California State Controller's Office · 2025 pay · 75 people
How much does a system operator make in California State Controller's Office?
$130,030typical pay for a system operator in 2025
$101,012 – $156,291what most people earned
Includes everyone paid during 2025, including part-year workers. Typical pay rose 13.1% from 2024.
✓ Official data from California State Controller's Office · Matches the agency's latest release · sco.ca.gov ↗✓ Official data from California State Controller's Office · Matches the agency's latest release · sco.ca.gov ↗
Where system operators work
Typical pay at each employer, 2025 (everyone paid).
- Marina Coast Water District12 people$138,162
- San Diego County Water Authority10 people$170,414
- East Contra Costa Irrigation District7 people$105,425
- Camrosa Water District7 people$100,568
- Helix Water District5 people$139,425
- Vista Irrigation District5 people$101,378
- City of Alameda5 people$213,957
- Rainbow Municipal Water District4 people$173,202
- Sweetwater Authority3 people$103,838
- Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District3 people$91,248
- Metropolitan Water District of Southern California3 people$218,812
- Foothill Municipal Water District3 people$156,875
- Lakeside Water District2 people$99,225
- City of San Clemente2 people$129,776
- Desert Water Agency2 people$114,665
- Skyview County Water District1 person$39,969
- Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency1 person$56,187
No employers match.
Pay by level
Levels with 5 or more people.
- System Operator I16 people$104,632
- System Operator II25 people$128,402
- System Operator III15 people$139,562
- System Operator17 people$156,875
Related jobs and the next step up
Same line of work at a different rank, by typical pay (full-year employees where we can tell).
- System Operator (this page)$130,030 (everyone)
- Senior System Operator$216,872 (everyone)
Highest-paid system operators, 2025
Common questions
How much does a system operator make in California State Controller's Office?
The typical system operator was paid $130,030 in 2025; most earned between $101,012 and $156,291. This counts all 75 people paid, including part-year workers.
How much of the pay is overtime?
Overtime made up 15.0% of all pay for system operators in 2025.
Which job titles are included?
Everyone whose payroll title is System Operator, at any level (for example "System Operator I"). Part-time-schedule titles (such as "20 hours") are left out. Senior, supervising and trainee titles have their own pages.
Job titles are written out in full from the payroll's abbreviations (for example "SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR" → "Senior Correctional Police Officer"). "Typical pay" is the median; "most earned" is the middle half. How we calculate this