South Orange County Wastewater Authority water operator salary, 2025

South Orange County Wastewater Authority is a joint powers authority in Orange County: a public agency that two or more public agencies set up by agreement to run a shared service.1 11 people worked as water operators for South Orange County Wastewater Authority in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $140,342, overtime included.

What is the average water operator salary at South Orange County Wastewater Authority?

Official pay range2

$82,224 to $198,036

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

Average total pay, full-year water operators2

$140,342

average base pay $126,603

Water operators
11
9 of them worked the full year
Starting salary
$82,224
bottom of the Operator Grade I range
Median total pay
$132,823
the middle water operator: half earned more, half less
Average pay rank
56th
of 300 California employers

What does each water operator title at South Orange County Wastewater 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. Operator Grade I$82,224 to $104,976 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  2. Operator Grade II$100,008 to $127,644 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  3. Operator Grade III$110,280 to $140,736 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  4. Assistant Chief Operator$115,812 to $151,464 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  5. Chief Operator$155,172 to $198,036 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5

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

Does South Orange County Wastewater Authority pay water operators more than other employers in Orange County?

Average total pay of full-year water operators: South Orange County Wastewater Authority next to every employer in the county together, and the whole state.2

Full-year water operators at South Orange County Wastewater Authority earned $11,681 more than the Orange County average and $16,616 more than the California average.

Where does South Orange County Wastewater Authority rank among California employers?

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

All 300 California employers

South Orange County Wastewater Authority ranks 56th of 300, above the middle employer.

South Orange County Wastewater Authority
$50k$100k$150k$200k

Middle employer: $116,210

The 19 employers in Orange County

South Orange County Wastewater Authority ranks 5th of 19, above the middle employer.

South Orange County Wastewater Authority
$80k$100k$120k$140k$160k

Middle employer: $131,027

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 South Orange County Wastewater 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 62
the most common formula among South Orange County Wastewater Authority's water operators
Employer pension contribution
$13,009
average per year
Health, dental and vision
$20,775
average paid by the employer per year

Questions about water operator pay at South Orange County Wastewater Authority

What is the average water operator salary at South Orange County Wastewater Authority?

Water operators at South Orange County Wastewater Authority who worked the full year earned an average of $140,342 in 2025, overtime included. The middle water operator earned $132,823: half earned more, half less. The official pay range across its water operator titles runs from $82,224 to $198,036.

How much overtime do water operators at South Orange County Wastewater Authority earn?

Full-year water operators were paid an average of $4,836 in overtime in 2025. The middle one was paid $4,996: a few people with a lot of overtime pull the average up.

What pension do water operators at South Orange County Wastewater Authority get?

The most common pension formula among South Orange County Wastewater Authority's water operators is 2% at 62, as reported by the agency. The employer paid an average of $13,009 a year into the pension plan.

More salaries in Orange County

Sources for the South Orange County Wastewater Authority figures

Every person who held a water operator position at South Orange County Wastewater 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 South Orange County Wastewater Authority.

How we read the data