Paycheck Atlas

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $94,060 a year, 57% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $5,701 a month.

10th percentile
$60,650
25th percentile
$69,340
Median percentile
$94,060
75th percentile
$109,410
90th percentile
$119,090

Based on 80 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$68,417 take-home a year
Gross pay$94,060
Federal income tax−$11,863
Social Security + Medicare−$7,196
California income tax (approx.)−$6,584
Monthly take-home$5,701
Every two weeks$2,631

Does it go far here?

$85,590Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
40%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,264 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

JobMedian pay
Registered Nurses$170,960
Software Developers$156,910
Sales Managers$117,090
General and Operations Managers$105,360
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,260
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,810
Accountants and Auditors$84,920
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,010

All water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salaries · Take-home pay in California