--- title: "Refinery & Process Operator Programs in California" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/ description: "Refinery & Process Operator pay in California: BLS average $104,560 (all experience levels), median $103,250, bottom 10% $72,930. 15 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Refinery & Process Operator](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/) 4. California California # Refinery & Process Operator programs in *California* 15 listed process operator programs in California, plus BLS pay data for the state and 7 metro areas. - **$104,560** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$72,930** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$103,250** Median pay (state) - **$128,840** Top 10% earn over 3,360 jobs in California · 15 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Cities with listed programs - [Sacramento 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/sacramento/) - [Berkeley 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/berkeley/) - [Chula Vista 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/chula-vista/) - [Los Angeles 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/los-angeles/) - [Monterey Park 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/monterey-park/) - [Fresno 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/fresno/) - [Fullerton 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/fullerton/) - [Merced 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/merced/) BLS wage data ## Refinery & Process Operator pay in California Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | California | $72,930 | $96,810 | $103,250 | $119,200 | $128,840 | $104,560 | 3,360 | | United States | $57,110 | $77,510 | $96,710 | $106,320 | $115,880 | $90,630 | 33,160 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $96,800 | $117,180 | $117,660 | $119,200 | $149,760 | $114,810 | 870 | | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $83,000 | $102,940 | $103,250 | $128,090 | $128,840 | $106,940 | 1,700 | | Vallejo, CA | $86,510 | $103,040 | $103,040 | $103,040 | $134,690 | $106,180 | 130 | | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $79,280 | $81,020 | $97,530 | $97,850 | $98,560 | $90,510 | 240 | | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,460 | $72,820 | $85,220 | $100,660 | $114,200 | $89,940 | 30 | | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,130 | $62,720 | $79,840 | $100,090 | $101,570 | $78,620 | 120 | | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,310 | $68,600 | $72,930 | $88,860 | $114,360 | $79,270 | 100 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in California Every process operator program we matched in California. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Berkeley City College](https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Berkeley, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 4 | $1,258–$10,138 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Berkeley City College](https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Berkeley, CA | Associate degree | 3 | $1,258–$10,138 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [East Los Angeles College](https://www.elac.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Monterey Park, CA | Associate degree | 3 | $1,238–$11,040 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [East Los Angeles College](https://www.elac.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Monterey Park, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 1 | $1,238–$11,040 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Fresno City College](https://www.fresnocitycollege.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Fresno, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $1,334–$10,714 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Fullerton College](https://www.fullcoll.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Fullerton, CA | Associate degree | 0 | $1,150–$13,279 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Los Angeles Trade Technical College](https://www.lattc.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Los Angeles, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 1 | $1,238–$11,040 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Los Angeles Trade Technical College](https://www.lattc.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Los Angeles, CA | Associate degree | 1 | $1,238–$11,040 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Merced College](https://www.mccd.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Merced, CA | Associate degree | 0 | $1,202–$8,882 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Mt San Antonio College](https://www.mtsac.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Walnut, CA | Associate degree | 4 | $1,364–$11,136 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Sacramento City College](https://www.scc.losrios.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Sacramento, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 27 | $1,288–$12,472 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Sacramento City College](https://www.scc.losrios.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Sacramento, CA | Associate degree | 2 | $1,288–$12,472 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Sacramento City College](https://www.scc.losrios.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Sacramento, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 21 | $1,288–$12,472 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Southwestern College](https://www.swccd.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Chula Vista, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $1,356–$12,360 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Southwestern College](https://www.swccd.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Chula Vista, CA | Associate degree | 0 | $1,356–$12,360 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. ### Browse by city - [Sacramento 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/sacramento/) - [Berkeley 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/berkeley/) - [Chula Vista 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/chula-vista/) - [Los Angeles 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/los-angeles/) - [Monterey Park 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/monterey-park/) - [Fresno 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/fresno/) - [Fullerton 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/fullerton/) - [Merced 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/merced/) - [Walnut 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/walnut/) Related resources ## Keep researching [**Registered apprenticeships in California** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ca/) [**Trade schools approved for the GI Bill** Search programs that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [51-8093.00 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-8093.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/california/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.