California State Controller's Office · 2025 pay · 166 people
How much does a water operator make in California State Controller's Office?
$74,396typical pay for a water operator in 2025
$41,456 – $98,887what most people earned
Includes everyone paid during 2025, including part-year workers. Typical pay rose 8.5% 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 water operators work
Typical pay at each employer, 2025 (everyone paid).
- City of Hanford14 people$51,284
- City of Camarillo9 people$103,415
- City of Hollister8 people$95,506
- Westside Water Authority7 people$93,629
- City of Benicia7 people$143,611
- Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District7 people$105,960
- Richgrove Community Services District6 people$21,724
- Amador Water Agency5 people$115,004
- Nipomo Community Services District5 people$69,474
- Timber Cove County Water District5 people$14,452
- City of Watsonville5 people$83,625
- Western Canal Water District5 people$58,316
- City of Patterson5 people$59,748
- City of Coalinga4 people$88,446
- Idyllwild Water District4 people$75,628
- City of Waterford4 people$55,628
- Lake Hemet Municipal Water District4 people$121,189
- Lake Don Pedro Community Services District4 people$77,536
- City of Solvang3 people$77,878
- City of Kingsburg3 people$72,128
- City of Seal Beach3 people$106,620
- Inverness Public Utility District3 people$91,859
- Bear Valley Community Services District3 people$116,515
- City of Dixon2 people$96,115
- Wynola Water District2 people$2,063
- City of Williams2 people$61,336
- Pine Grove Community Services District2 people$34,885
- City of Rio Dell2 people$30,040
- Cacheville Community Services District2 people$20,811
- Mammoth Community Water District2 people$102,137
- Patterson Tract Community Service District2 people$5,011
- Pleasant Valley County Water District2 people$58,926
- High Valleys Water District2 people$39,654
- Shasta Community Services District2 people$89,306
- City of Sanger2 people$42,561
- Ventura River Water District2 people$129,910
- Callayomi County Water District1 person$69,214
- Sutter Community Service District1 person$65,600
- Knights Landing Community Services District1 person$46,468
- Poplar Community Service District1 person$70,017
- City of Fowler1 person$23,715
- Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District1 person$51,000
- Alleghany County Water District1 person$3,511
- Lebec County Water District1 person$63,185
- Temescal Valley Water District1 person$33,880
- Aromas Water District1 person$77,692
- Loleta Community Services District1 person$24,510
- Madison Community Services District1 person$1,232
- City of McFarland1 person$22,865
- City of Santa Maria1 person$61,590
- Orick Community Services District1 person$31,195
- Ruth Lake Community Services District1 person$1,200
- Tennant Community Services District1 person$4,800
No employers match.
Pay by level
Levels with 5 or more people.
- Water Operator53 people$54,607
- Water Operator I48 people$69,696
- Water Operator II39 people$91,335
- Water Operator III14 people$106,767
- Water Operator IV5 people$158,288
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).
- Water Operator (this page)$74,396 (everyone)
- Chief Water Operator$101,794 (everyone)
- Senior Water Operator$120,803 (everyone)
- Lead Water Operator$131,152 (everyone)
Highest-paid water operators, 2025
Common questions
How much does a water operator make in California State Controller's Office?
The typical water operator was paid $74,396 in 2025; most earned between $41,456 and $98,887. This counts all 166 people paid, including part-year workers.
How much of the pay is overtime?
Overtime made up 9.3% of all pay for water operators in 2025.
Which job titles are included?
Everyone whose payroll title is Water Operator, at any level (for example "Water Operator"). 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