What does a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary really buy you in California?
California is 12.5% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
California's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 112.5, meaning prices are 12.5% higher the national average. A Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers earning $107,270 in California has the equivalent purchasing power of $95,351 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for California's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $61,430 | $54,604 | $-6,825 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $89,500 | $79,555 | $-9,944 |
| Median (P50) | $107,270 | $95,351 | $-11,918 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $119,530 | $106,248 | $-13,281 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $124,040 | $110,257 | $-13,782 |
While $107,270 sounds high, California's elevated cost of living erases 11% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $95,351. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
California ranks #14 out of 41 states for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in California earns a median salary of $107,270 per year. After adjusting for California's cost of living (RPP=112.5), the real purchasing power is $95,351 — a -11.1% difference.
California's cost of living is 12.5% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for California is 112.5 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in California: $107,270 x (100 / 112.5) = $95,351. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers's nominal salary of $107,270 in California has 11.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $95,351. However, California may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.