Gas Plant Operators pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $92,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,830 or more. The middle half of gas plant operators in San Diego earn between $98,690 and $99,280.
- $93K10th
- $99K25th
- $99KMedian
- $99K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,160 | $8,513 | $49.12 |
| Median | $98,900 | $8,242 | $47.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,690 | $8,224 | $47.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,280 | $8,273 | $47.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Gas Plant Operators pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Gas plant operators in San Diego earn 15% less than the California average ($120,680) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($88,710). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $87,820.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $102,160 | $98,900 | $92,790 | $132,830 | 120 |
| California | $120,680 | $130,220 | $92,610 | $140,400 | 800 |
| United States | $88,710 | $87,820 | $61,350 | $115,520 | 18,030 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Gas Plant Operators salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $102,160, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $75,291 a year, or $6,274 a month and $2,896 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for gas plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $102,160 buys what about $91,306 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Gas Plant Operators salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 3rd of 3 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($121,110).
- Los Angeles$121,110
- Riverside$114,070
- San Diego$102,160
Highest-paying cities for gas plant operators
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,110).
- Los Angeles, CA$121,110
- New York, NY$115,310
- Riverside, CA$114,070
- Portland, OR$110,150
- Detroit, MI$103,970
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Gas Plant Operators salary in San Diego: questions
How much do gas plant operators make an hour in San Diego?
$49.12 an hour on average, and $47.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level gas plant operators salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $92,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the gas plant operators take-home pay in San Diego?
About $75,291 a year ($6,274 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,160. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do gas plant operators earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($88,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8092; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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