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Wastewater Operator Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

Wastewater Operator I/II

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$93K - $125K/yr

Wastewater Operator I : $93,809.00- $113,985.00Annually - For full s CLICK HERE Wastewater Operator II : $102,132.00- $125,392.00Annually - For full s CLICK HERE The Benefits of City Employment In ...

Wastewater Operator I/II

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$93K - $125K/yr

Wastewater Operator I : $93,809.00- $113,985.00Annually Wastewater Operator II : $102,132.00- $125,392.00Annually The Benefits of City Employment In addition to offering a rewarding work environment ...

Plant Operator

Middletown, CA · On-site

$40 - $50/hr

Power Plant Operators are responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of power generation facilities. Duties include starting, stopping, and monitoring equipment, reading gauges and ...

Equipment Operator

Petaluma, CA · On-site

$40.89 - $47.31/hr

The Equipment Operator will prioritize safety, perform equipment inspections and minor maintenance, and monitor plant operations to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Essential Functions ...

Equipment Operator

Petaluma, CA · On-site

$40.89 - $47.31/hr

The Equipment Operator will prioritize safety, perform equipment inspections and minor maintenance, and monitor plant operations to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Essential Functions ...

Machine Operator

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$21.91/hr

The advanced machine operator can independently perform these tasks with minimal input from the machine shop supervisor and is available to train basic machine operators in the setup of individual ...

Machine Operator

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$21.91/hr

The advanced machine operator can independently perform these tasks with minimal input from the machine shop supervisor and is available to train basic machine operators in the setup of individual ...

The advanced machine operator can independently perform these tasks with minimal input from the machine shop supervisor and is available to train basic machine operators in the setup of individual ...

Machine Operator

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$21.91/hr

The advanced machine operator can independently perform these tasks with minimal input from the machine shop supervisor and is available to train basic machine operators in the setup of individual ...

Machine Operator

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$21.91/hr

The advanced machine operator can independently perform these tasks with minimal input from the machine shop supervisor and is available to train basic machine operators in the setup of individual ...

Machine Operator

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$21.91/hr

The advanced machine operator can independently perform these tasks with minimal input from the machine shop supervisor and is available to train basic machine operators in the setup of individual ...

Utility Worker I/II

Healdsburg, CA · On-site

$66K - $95K/yr

Possession of a Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator certificate from the California State Water Resources Control Board. Possession of a Grade I Wastewater Collection System Maintenance certificate ...

Utility Worker I/II

Healdsburg, CA · On-site

$66K - $95K/yr

Possession of a Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator certificate from the California State Water Resources Control Board. Possession of a Grade I Wastewater Collection System Maintenance certificate ...

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Wastewater Operator information

See Santa Rosa, CA salary details

$16

$28

$42

How much do wastewater operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for wastewater operator in Santa Rosa, CA is $28.19, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.88 and $31.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a wastewater operator?

Wastewater operators are professionals responsible for managing and maintaining the systems and equipment that treat municipal or industrial wastewater. They monitor, operate, and adjust controls to ensure that water treatment processes comply with environmental regulations and public health standards. Their duties include inspecting equipment, collecting water samples, conducting tests, and keeping detailed records. Wastewater operators play a crucial role in protecting water resources and ensuring clean, safe water for communities.

What are some common challenges wastewater operators face during routine plant operations?

Wastewater Operators often encounter challenges such as maintaining equipment reliability, responding to unexpected system alarms, and ensuring compliance with strict environmental regulations. Adapting to changes in influent flow or composition, especially during storms or industrial discharges, can require quick problem-solving and teamwork. Operators must also stay current with evolving technologies and safety practices, making ongoing training an important part of the role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a wastewater operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Wastewater Operator, you need a solid understanding of water treatment processes, chemistry, and safety regulations, usually supported by a high school diploma and state certification. Familiarity with SCADA systems, laboratory testing equipment, and mechanical maintenance tools is essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective teamwork help operators manage complex systems and respond to emergencies. These skills ensure the safe and efficient treatment of wastewater, protecting public health and the environment.

What is the difference between Wastewater Operator vs Water Treatment Plant Operator?

AspectWastewater OperatorWater Treatment Plant Operator
CertificationsWastewater Treatment CertificationWater Treatment Certification
Work EnvironmentWastewater treatment facilities, sewer systemsWater treatment plants, drinking water facilities
Industry UsageMunicipal and industrial wastewater managementMunicipal and industrial water supply
Job FocusManaging wastewater processing and dischargeManaging drinking water quality and distribution

While both roles involve water management and require similar certifications, Wastewater Operators focus on treating and managing wastewater, whereas Water Treatment Plant Operators handle potable water production. Both are essential in water industry operations and often work in similar environments, but their specific responsibilities differ based on the type of water they manage.

How much do wastewater operators make in the US?

Wastewater operators in the US typically earn a median annual salary of around $50,000 to $60,000, with experienced operators and those holding certifications earning higher wages. Salaries can vary based on location, level of experience, and the complexity of the treatment facilities they work in.

Is wastewater operator a hard job?

Wastewater operators perform essential tasks such as monitoring treatment processes, maintaining equipment, and ensuring environmental compliance, which can involve physical labor and technical skills. The job often requires working in confined spaces, handling chemicals, and obtaining certifications, making it moderately challenging but manageable with proper training. Overall, it demands attention to safety and detail but is not considered excessively difficult for those with relevant skills and training.

What are the requirements to be a wastewater operator?

Wastewater operators typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and must obtain relevant state certification or licensing, which involves passing exams that test knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and safety procedures. Some positions require prior experience or technical training, and operators often need to be physically capable of working in various environmental conditions and handling equipment. Continuing education is also common to maintain certification and stay updated on regulations.

Where do wastewater operators make the most money?

Wastewater operators tend to earn higher salaries in regions with a higher cost of living and more advanced infrastructure, such as urban areas or states with strong environmental regulations. Factors like experience, certifications, and the size of the facility also influence earning potential, with operators in larger or more complex treatment plants generally earning more.

What are the most commonly searched types of Wastewater Operator jobs in Santa Rosa, CA?

The most popular types of Wastewater Operator jobs in Santa Rosa, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Wastewater Operator jobs in Santa Rosa, CA?

For Wastewater Operator jobs in Santa Rosa, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Wastewater Operator jobs in Santa Rosa, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Wastewater Operator jobs in Santa Rosa, CA are:

What cities near Santa Rosa, CA are hiring for Wastewater Operator jobs?

Cities near Santa Rosa, CA with the most Wastewater Operator job openings:

Infographic showing various Wastewater Operator job openings in Santa Rosa, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 41% Full Time, 57% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,629 per year, or $28.2 per hour.

Wastewater Operator I/II

City of Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa, CA • On-site

$93K - $125K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago


City Of Santa Rosa rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

519th of 856 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

The Position The City of Santa Rosa is seeking highly qualified, detail oriented, and self-motivated individuals to join our professional team in operating the premier wastewater treatment facility in the North San Francisco Bay. The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, inclusive City for our community and visitors.

We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply. Wastewater Operator I : $93,809.00- $113,985.00Annually - For full job descriptions CLICK HERE Wastewater Operator II : $102,132.00- $125,392.00Annually - For full job descriptions CLICK HERE The Benefits of City Employment In addition to offering a rewarding work environment, opportunity for career growth, and excellent salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous suite of benefits, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave accrual package, your choice of three health plans, and top of the line employer paid vision and dental coverage. More information regarding benefits associated with this position can be found on our Miscellaneous Employee Benefits Page

THE BENEFITS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT: 12 paid holidays annually, plus 1 to 3 'floating holidays' per year, depending on start date and years of service Flexible schedule (9/80 or 5/8) with management approval $500 annually for wellness Unlimited free bus rides on CityBus and Sonoma County Transit The City is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualifying employer Paid Family Leave ABOUT THE POSITION: The City of Santa Rosa is looking for motivated individuals to join the team operating the premier water department in the North San Francisco Bay. The Wastewater Plant Operator is assigned to the Laguna Treatment Plant or Water Reuse sections of the Department and assists in the operation and maintenance of either system depending on assignment by performing a variety of skilled and semi-skilled tasks in the operation of either system. The Laguna Treatment Plant is a 21.3 MGD (66.9 MGD max) tertiary treatment plant serving 210,000 people, while the Water Reuse section operates a distribution system delivering water to agricultural customers and the Geysers Steam Field

PLEASE NOTE: This is a 24-hour per day, 7-day per week operation and the ideal candidate is willing and able to work all shifts (day, swing, grave, relief), weekends, and holidays on a rotating schedule. A Grade I certificate is required for appointment to Operator I; a Grade II certification is required for appointment to Operator II. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: The ideal candidate will: Exercise good judgment Be detail oriented and self-motivated Be hard-working and capable of working autonomously Capable of receiving instruction from supervisors and seeing to it that all tasks, both routine and unusual, are completed.

Be a "team-player" and will establish and maintain effective working relationships with their co-workers, peers, and management. Consider safety an important priority and always perform their duties in a safe and responsible manner following established policies and procedures. Have one (1) or more years of experience in the operation and maintenance of Wastewater Treatment Facilities utilizing primary/secondary clarification, activated sludge with biological nutrient removal, filtration (Title 22), UV disinfection, anaerobic digestion, and thickening/dewatering and co-generation.

HOW TO APPLY: Please complete a thoughtful, thorough Supplemental Questionnaire submission. As part of the selection process, your responses to these questions will be scored using criteria specific to this position. Incomplete responses, or responses such as "See Resume" can result in disqualification from the selection process.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. THE SELECTION PROCESS: The selection process will include a minimum qualification assessment and may also include an application and supplemental questionnaire review, followed by department selection interviews

For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Alberto Sanchez at asanchez@srcity.org Examples of Duties and Responsibilities Essential Duties: The following duties are considered essential for this job classification: Monitor and operate wastewater treatment plant or wastewater disposal and irrigation system equipment such as pumps, valves, motors, blowers, and/or sludge dewatering equipment; adjust and make minor repairs to wastewater treatment plant or disposal and distribution system equipment; collect samples of sewage, sludge, and/or reclaimed and receiving water; and keep records. For positions assigned to the Laguna Treatment Plant section, the following duties are also considered essential for this job classification: Adjust or alter chemical treatment of plant processes as required; respond to and control accidental releases of hazardous liquids and gases; perform confined space entries as required; and haul material on plant premises. Additional Duties: In addition to the duties listed in the Essential Duties section, each employee in this classification may perform the following duties

Any single position may not be assigned all duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties which may be assigned. Perform daily and weekly field analyses; oil, grease, and clean equipment; perform physical materials inventories; perform heavy manual labor and grounds maintenance work; haul material; deliver or collect samples from remote areas; read and interpret maps, aerial photos and blueprints; perform related duties as assigned. Required Qualifications Knowledge of: Operation and maintenance of equipment commonly found in a wastewater treatment plant or in a wastewater disposal and irrigation system; safe work practices.

Positions assigned to the Laguna Plant Treatment section must also have knowledge of the operation of activated sludge, anaerobic digestion, and sludge dewatering processes; proper sewage and sludge sampling techniques; chemical treatment processes used in wastewater treatment plants; and emergency chemical spill response procedures. Positions assigned to the Wastewater Reclamation section must also have knowledge of proper reclaimed water, river, and stream sampling techniques. Ability to: Operate the full range of equipment used in a wastewater treatment plant or a wastewater disposal and irrigation system; communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; conduct field analyses; learn through oral instruction in an on-the-job setting; comprehend and make inferences from written material and instructions; monitor and interpret gauges, digital displays, and recording devices to ensure compliance with prescribed safety or operational guidelines; respond to deviations from operational objectives according to prescribed guidelines.

Positions assigned to the Wastewater Reclamation section must also have the ability to apply laws, rules, and regulations relevant to wastewater disposal and irrigation; and interpret maps, blueprints, and aerial photos. Experience and Education: Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Education - Equivalent to completion of the 12th grade.

Experience - Wastewater Operator I- Sufficient wastewater treatment or reclaimed water irrigation experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed above; Wastewater Operator II- One year of experience performing duties comparable to those of a Wastewater Operator I for the City of Santa Rosa. License or Certificate: Both classifications require the use of a City vehicle while conducting City business. In order to drive, individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely and must possess an appropriate valid California motor vehicle operator's license.

A Grade I certificate is required for appointment to Operator I; a Grade II certification is required for appointment to Operator II. Additional Information Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: Incumbents in this classification may be required to work on a shift schedule, including evenings (swing shift), nights (graveyard shift), weekends and/or holidays, and outdoors in a variety of extreme weather conditions. Observation of pump and motor operation and other routine monitoring of equipment requires climbing of steps and stairs, repeated bending and stooping, and observation of dials and digital displays.

Regular daily sampling involves carrying full sample bottles weighing up to 42 pounds. Occasionally, in response to emergency situations, operators will carry portable pumps and hoses weighing more than 50 pounds for long distances and across rough terrain. Personal safety and chemical spill response requires that operators be able to hear sirens, gas detector alarms, and other auditory devices.

Daily record-keeping entails writing concise and proper entries into a logbook. For positions assigned to the Laguna Plant Treatment section, operators may climb ladders to inspect equipment on roof-tops or to operate overhead valves. Operating computer controls of plant equipment requires an operator to make fine adjustments to dial, button, and stick controllers.

For positions assigned to the Wastewater Reclamation section, operators communicate with clients and the public orally face-to-face and using a telephone. While monitoring the irrigation or disposal system, operators drive pick-up trucks, walk over uneven ground, and climb steps and ladders. Daily record-keeping involves writing in a notebook and entering data into a computer.

Reclamation operators use mowers, tractors, shovels and other hand tools while performing a broad range of maintenance duties such as fence mending and weed control. Santa Rosa - A Wonderful Place to Call Home: The City of Santa Rosa is located just 55 miles north of San Francisco and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean with a population of approximately 180,000. Santa Rosa is the seat of Sonoma County and the center of trade, government, commerce, and medical facilities for the North Bay.

The surrounding area is home to over a hundred wineries and vineyards and many beautiful parks and recreational facilities, including golf courses. Santa Rosa is in the center of a nationally recognized cycling area. We boast many attractions associated with large cities, including a symphony, performing arts center, theater productions and internationally recognized restaurants, yet still retain the warmth and small town feel of decades past.

Santa Rosa has been named one of the 50 greenest cities in the United States with one of the top five mid-sized downtowns in California. The City of Santa Rosa is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment.

Requests for reasonable accommodations needed to participate in the recruitment process may be made by submitting a Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form within five (5) business days of being noticed that an event requiring accommodation is occurring. You may also contact the Human Resources Department at (707) 543-3060 or jobs@srcity.org.


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