Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $114,360 or more. The middle half of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in San Diego earn between $68,600 and $88,860.
- $47K10th
- $69K25th
- $73KMedian
- $89K75th
- $114K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,270 | $6,606 | $38.11 |
| Median | $72,930 | $6,078 | $35.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,600 | $5,717 | $32.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,860 | $7,405 | $42.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in San Diego earn 24% less than the California average ($104,560) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($90,630). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $96,710.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $79,270 | $72,930 | $47,310 | $114,360 | 100 |
| California | $104,560 | $103,250 | $72,930 | $128,840 | 3,360 |
| United States | $90,630 | $96,710 | $57,110 | $115,880 | 33,160 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $79,270, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $61,316 a year, or $5,110 a month and $2,358 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers? 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 $79,270 buys what about $70,848 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 11.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 6th of 7 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($114,810).
- San Francisco$114,810
- Los Angeles$106,940
- Vallejo$106,180
- Bakersfield$90,510
- Sacramento$89,940
- San Diego$79,270
- Riverside$78,620
All Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($114,810).
- San Francisco, CA$114,810
- Los Angeles, CA$106,940
- Philadelphia, PA$106,750
- Vallejo, CA$106,180
- Minneapolis, MN$104,820
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by city
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Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make an hour in San Diego?
$38.11 an hour on average, and $35.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $61,316 a year ($5,110 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,270. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($90,630).
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 51-8093; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- 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 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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