Central Coast Water Authority water operator salary, 2025

Central Coast Water Authority is a joint powers authority in Santa Barbara County: a public agency that two or more public agencies set up by agreement to run a shared service.1 7 people worked as water operators for Central Coast Water Authority in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $135,348, overtime included.

What is the average water operator salary at Central Coast Water Authority?

Official pay range2

$91,030 to $118,444

from the lowest entry salary to the top of the highest water operator title

Average total pay, full-year water operators2

$135,348

average base pay $107,119

Most of Central Coast Water Authority's water operators (6 of 7) hold the title Plant Operator, with an official range of $97,085 to $118,444. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $135,348, $16,904 above the top of the range.

Water operators
7
5 of them worked the full year
Starting salary
$91,030
bottom of the Plant Operator Trainee range
Median total pay
$137,559
the middle water operator: half earned more, half less
Average pay rank
79th
of 300 California employers

What does each water operator title at Central Coast Water Authority pay?

Each bar is the official range for one title, lowest first. The dot marks the average total pay of full-year staff in that title, where at least 5 people stand behind it.2

  1. Plant Operator Trainee$91,030 to $111,056 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  2. Plant Operator$97,085 to $118,444 · 6 people
    $135,348

official range average total pay, full year. "Fewer than 5" means too few full-year people in that title to show.

Does Central Coast Water Authority pay water operators more than other employers in Santa Barbara County?

Average total pay of full-year water operators: Central Coast Water Authority next to every employer in the county together, and the whole state.2

Full-year water operators at Central Coast Water Authority earned $14,442 more than the Santa Barbara County average and $11,622 more than the California average.

Where does Central Coast Water Authority rank among California employers?

Every employer with at least 5 full-year water operators, by average total pay.2

All 300 California employers

Central Coast Water Authority ranks 79th of 300, above the middle employer.

Central Coast Water Authority
$50k$100k$150k$200k

Middle employer: $116,210

The 10 employers in Santa Barbara County

Central Coast Water Authority ranks 2nd of 10, above the middle employer.

Central Coast Water Authority
$100k$120k$140k

Middle employer: $115,039

Each bar counts the employers whose average total pay falls in a $5,000 band. The dashed line marks the middle employer.

Pension and health cover at Central Coast Water Authority

As reported by the agency. Contributions are what the employer paid per full-year water operator, on top of wages.2

Pension formula
2% at 55
the most common formula among Central Coast Water Authority's water operators
Employer pension contribution
$14,692
average per year
Health, dental and vision
$15,046
average paid by the employer per year

Questions about water operator pay at Central Coast Water Authority

What is the average water operator salary at Central Coast Water Authority?

Water operators at Central Coast Water Authority who worked the full year earned an average of $135,348 in 2025, overtime included. The middle water operator earned $137,559: half earned more, half less. The official pay range across its water operator titles runs from $91,030 to $118,444.

How much overtime do water operators at Central Coast Water Authority earn?

Full-year water operators were paid an average of $12,170 in overtime in 2025. The middle one was paid $13,960: a few people with a lot of overtime pull the average up.

What pension do water operators at Central Coast Water Authority get?

The most common pension formula among Central Coast Water Authority's water operators is 2% at 55, as reported by the agency. The employer paid an average of $14,692 a year into the pension plan.

More salaries in Santa Barbara County

Sources for the Central Coast Water Authority figures

Every person who held a water operator position at Central Coast Water Authority at any point in 2025 counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Averages lead; the median total pay is the middle person's, with half above and half below, and is less pulled by a few people with a lot of overtime. Every figure covers at least 5 people.

  1. California Government Code, section 6502: public agencies may jointly exercise their common powers by agreement.
  2. State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages, pension formula and employer contributions as reported by Central Coast Water Authority.

How we read the data