Considering moving form Texas to Los Angeles area, question about job market (refineries/power plants) (Long Beach: apartments, to rent)

[Gamezero]

Hello, I've been living in Houston area for around 20+ years and am looking for a change of scenery. I am originally from California, and would like to live closer to my family. I wouldn't dare leave Texas without finding a steady job first, so I'm wondering how the job market is as far as refineries/chemical plants/power plants. I'm a process operator at a refinery in Houston making about 40/hr and with overtime I make about 100k a year. Here are my questions:

1) What area of L.A. (or surrounding suburbs) has the best job market for this?
2) Would anybody know if the pay for being an operator is similar to that of Texas? (60k-90k base pay is what it's like over here)
3) Would 100k/year be suitable for living in this area?
4) What are some of the biggest refineries/power plants in this area?

Thanks

[socal88]

1) A lot of the refineries are in the South Bay, which is approximately 20 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles depending on where you are specifically.

2) My buddy used to work in a non-operator role at Exxon's refinery in Torrance (ironically he left California for Houston a couple years ago), which is a pretty big refinery. Unfortunately, I don't know what operators make exactly but I'm pretty sure it's in the range you cited based on what I've seen online.

3) To help better answer this question, are you single or do you have a family to support? Also, are you looking to rent or buy a home? That can narrow down options to an extent.

Living in Torrance is definitely an option as you'd have a short commute to most refineries located in the greater LA area, and it's relatively affordable compared to other areas in the South Bay such as Redondo Beach or Hermosa Beach. Long Beach is another potential option. I prefer South Bay cities such as Torrance or Hermosa Beach because they have lower crime rates, but just depends on what you're looking for. As I'm sure you're aware, $100K doesn't go as far here as it does in Houston. But $100K is definitely enough for the areas I've mentioned if you're just supporting yourself.


4) Check out the links below for lists of refineries:

California's Oil Refineries

https://www.wspa.org/sites/default/f...2012.12.08.pdf

[Gamezero]

Originally Posted by socal88

1) A lot of the refineries are in the South Bay, which is approximately 20 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles depending on where you are specifically.

2) My buddy used to work in a non-operator role at Exxon's refinery in Torrance (ironically he left California for Houston a couple years ago), which is a pretty big refinery. Unfortunately, I don't know what operators make exactly but I'm pretty sure it's in the range you cited based on what I've seen online.

3) To help better answer this question, are you single or do you have a family to support? Also, are you looking to rent or buy a home? That can narrow down options to an extent.

Living in Torrance is definitely an option as you'd have a short commute to most refineries located in the greater LA area, and it's relatively affordable compared to other areas in the South Bay such as Redondo Beach or Hermosa Beach. Long Beach is another potential option. I prefer South Bay cities such as Torrance or Hermosa Beach because they have lower crime rates, but just depends on what you're looking for. As I'm sure you're aware, $100K doesn't go as far here as it does in Houston. But $100K is definitely enough for the areas I've mentioned if you're just supporting yourself.


4) Check out the links below for lists of refineries:

California's Oil Refineries

https://www.wspa.org/sites/default/f...2012.12.08.pdf

Thanks a lot. Valero, ExxonMobil and Shell would be the ideal companies for me to shoot for. And Torrance does seem like the best location to get to these plants, considering most of them are in El Segundo and Wilmington. Hopefully Torrance isn't too over populated and has lower crime rate, but I will make a trip out there this summer to see it first hand. Overall, I would like to get as far away as I can from downtown LA/south central, but still have no more than a 30-40 min commute from home to work. I don't mind the drive. So any other suggestions other than Torrance would be appreciated.

And I will be supporting my wife and I. Once she finishes school in about a year, then we will consider job options for her in LA area. And I'd be looking to rent an apartment for first, then eventually buy a home. The most I would spend a month on rent would be 1700-2000/month. I hope that's a reasonable range.

[IM90046]

Originally Posted by Mateo2699

Thanks a lot. Valero, ExxonMobil and Shell would be the ideal companies for me to shoot for. And Torrance does seem like the best location to get to these plants, considering most of them are in El Segundo and Wilmington. Hopefully Torrance isn't too over populated and has lower crime rate, but I will make a trip out there this summer to see it first hand. Overall, I would like to get as far away as I can from downtown LA/south central, but still have no more than a 30-40 min commute from home to work. I don't mind the drive. So any other suggestions other than Torrance would be appreciated.

And I will be supporting my wife and I. Once she finishes school in about a year, then we will consider job options for her in LA area. And I'd be looking to rent an apartment for first, then eventually buy a home. The most I would spend a month on rent would be 1700-2000/month. I hope that's a reasonable range.

Why do you want to be as far away from downtown as possible?

1700-2000 is enough to rent a 1 bedroom in a nice south bay neighborhood. I would look in South Redondo if I were you. Many apartments close to beach, safe, sleepy. Very quick commute to the Exxon refinery just down Del Amo. 10 mins. Also not too far from Chevron in El Segundo via PCH, 20 mins.

[Gamezero]

Originally Posted by IM90046

Why do you want to be as far away from downtown as possible?

1700-2000 is enough to rent a 1 bedroom in a nice south bay neighborhood. I would look in South Redondo if I were you. Many apartments close to beach, safe, sleepy. Very quick commute to the Exxon refinery just down Del Amo. 10 mins. Also not too far from Chevron in El Segundo via PCH, 20 mins.

Well I'm not sure how LA is, but in Houston "inside of 610 (downtown)" has way too much traffic and it's too busy and over populated. I guess I started appreciating the outskirt suburbs a lot more. And South Redondo does sound great, I'm going to look into that area thanks.

[jessemh431]

Originally Posted by Mateo2699

Well I'm not sure how LA is, but in Houston "inside of 610 (downtown)" has way too much traffic and it's too busy and over populated. I guess I started appreciating the outskirt suburbs a lot more. And South Redondo does sound great, I'm going to look into that area thanks.

We don't have the loop freeway system like a lot of newer suburban cities, especially in the south. Basically everywhere has traffic. Even in Torrance, which is almost as suburban as you can get in LA, the homes are close together, you won't get much land, and there's traffic. But if you enjoy driving, the more strip mall type shopping with plenty of parking, and mainly single family homes, Torrance and Redondo are good fits. Basically the stretch from El Segundo along the coast (minus Palos Verdes) to Long Beach has the work you're looking for. The closer you get to the coast in that area, the better the neighborhood, but also more expensive.

I'd second Redondo. Hermosa and Manhattan would probably be too dense/urban/city for what you want. Torrance is only for families, not a couple without kids. North Redondo can get a bit sketchy. South Redondo has easy access to all the South Bay offers, but is cheaper and quieter.

[bobsnow]

Good luck w/getting a job at a refinery out here, even with experience. Haha. Im a laid off operator myself. Theres 10s of thousands of guys out here thats been waiting on that same wish list for years & years ( even with contractors) & every year, they MIGHT hire a group of 10 or so & with all these new environmental restrictions that keep getting handed out every year, the noose on hiring keeps getting tighter. I think you would be INSANE to leave Houston & come out here, especially if that is the line of work youre in. Its just not happening out here anymore, buddy. Im not trying to P*** on your parade, Im just telling you the gods honest truth. Dont do it.

[Gamezero]

^ I hear you. Glad to hear from another fellow operator about how my chances of landing an operator job is slim in CA. But like I said, I wouldn't move out there without a job first. Would you know how the pay scale for operators are in CA? Just would like to see how it compares to Texas.

[bobsnow]

Contractors are lucky to make around 15$ & actual operators w/ Chevron, Valero etc all start off at 28-29$

[DriveNotCommute]

Do you have to work in an oil related industry? My impression is that your skills should be transferable to chemical manufacturing and perhaps pharmaceuticals. Couldn't hurt to try, at least.

Spectrum Chemicals is a reputable maker and supplier of lab chemicals, I know many local labs buy from them. There seems to be a facility in Gardena but do not know how well they pay.

Pharma might be a bit harder to break into since they usually look for people who are familiar with the 21 CFRs, 200 series. It's not impossible because I know of manager/specialist-level people in that industry who made the transition from the oil industry in general, although granted it feels like they were usually engineers. Permanent positions at a good company should get you equivalent or better pay but not so if the company is a contract manufacturer or for temp positions anywhere. Wouldn't hurt to test a few companies and gauge their reactions to your resume.

You also might find more alternatives in the Bay Area, especially in the east bay.