Plant and System Operators, All Other pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,970 or more. The middle half of other plant and system operators in San Diego earn between $67,020 and $84,780.
- $65K10th
- $67K25th
- $77KMedian
- $85K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,990 | $6,416 | $37.01 |
| Median | $77,330 | $6,444 | $37.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,020 | $5,585 | $32.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,780 | $7,065 | $40.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Plant and System Operators, All Other pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Other plant and system operators in San Diego earn 4% less than the California average ($80,220) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($65,700). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $76,990 | $77,330 | $65,430 | $98,970 | 150 |
| California | $80,220 | $78,020 | $49,200 | $112,860 | 1,560 |
| United States | $65,700 | $62,470 | $40,700 | $94,560 | 14,080 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $76,990, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $59,906 a year, or $4,992 a month and $2,304 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 other plant and system 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 $76,990 buys what about $68,810 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 12.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 6th of 9 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($95,910).
- Sacramento$95,910
- San Jose$89,220
- San Francisco$88,310
- Bakersfield$82,380
- Los Angeles$78,610
- San Diego$76,990
- Riverside$76,250
- Fresno$73,400
- Oxnard$62,770
All Plant and System Operators, All Other salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for other plant and system operators
Sacramento, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($95,910).
- Sacramento, CA$95,910
- Las Vegas, NV$94,340
- Duluth, MN$91,550
- San Jose, CA$89,220
- San Francisco, CA$88,310
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Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in San Diego: questions
How much do other plant and system operators make an hour in San Diego?
$37.02 an hour on average, and $37.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other plant and system operators salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other plant and system operators take-home pay in San Diego?
About $59,906 a year ($4,992 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,990. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do other plant and system operators earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($65,700).
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 51-8099; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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