Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $57,110 | $27.46 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| Mean (average) | $90,630 | $43.57 |
| 90th percentile | $115,880 | $55.71 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 43 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $73,510 | $43,950 | $93,240 | 90 | 0.2 |
| Alaska | $124,530 | $83,680 | $167,880 | 370 | 5.3 |
| Arizona | $60,070 | $38,520 | $106,360 | 180 | 0.26 |
| Arkansas | $86,580 | $56,580 | $96,770 | 220 | 0.8 |
| California | $103,250 | $72,930 | $128,840 | 3,360 | 0.86 |
| Colorado | $93,750 | $62,620 | $104,590 | 120 | 0.2 |
| Connecticut | $56,880 | $46,070 | $100,340 | ||
| Florida | $63,480 | $49,920 | $97,000 | 170 | 0.08 |
| Georgia | $57,180 | $42,720 | $98,120 | 240 | 0.23 |
| Hawaii | $94,900 | $71,240 | $130,310 | 280 | 2.1 |
| Illinois | $102,890 | $93,690 | $111,380 | 1,070 | 0.82 |
| Indiana | $67,420 | $44,260 | $104,020 | 520 | 0.76 |
| Iowa | $90,160 | $61,400 | $99,760 | 70 | 0.22 |
| Kansas | $101,880 | $79,250 | $109,260 | 950 | 3.09 |
| Kentucky | $78,670 | $50,540 | $106,810 | 520 | 1.21 |
| Louisiana | $106,640 | $42,160 | $111,060 | 3,490 | 8.45 |
| Maine | $65,150 | $43,470 | $92,810 | 60 | 0.45 |
| Maryland | $78,580 | $48,280 | $101,800 | 90 | 0.16 |
| Michigan | $84,030 | $57,450 | $101,820 | 180 | 0.19 |
| Minnesota | $101,910 | $70,770 | $128,670 | 550 | 0.87 |
| Mississippi | $75,180 | $66,190 | $98,100 | 860 | 3.48 |
| Missouri | $80,960 | $59,860 | $118,760 | 100 | 0.17 |
| Montana | $98,310 | $75,760 | $108,160 | 550 | 5.04 |
| Nevada | $62,420 | $50,110 | $78,560 | 30 | 0.1 |
| New Hampshire | $70,050 | $56,800 | $82,930 | 120 | 0.82 |
| New Jersey | $104,540 | $79,930 | $122,800 | 420 | 0.46 |
| New Mexico | $74,340 | $48,380 | $104,790 | 420 | 2.25 |
| New York | $88,880 | $60,850 | $105,080 | 70 | 0.03 |
| North Carolina | $80,060 | $60,250 | $98,940 | 130 | 0.12 |
| North Dakota | $93,130 | $66,580 | $118,280 | 950 | 10.42 |
| Ohio | $105,150 | $73,840 | $107,530 | 800 | 0.68 |
| Oklahoma | $95,140 | $74,420 | $107,170 | 1,390 | 3.82 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,870 | $61,670 | $105,580 | 820 | 0.63 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,470 | $21,840 | $82,360 | 40 | 0.19 |
| South Carolina | $58,160 | $24,880 | $96,140 | 70 | 0.14 |
| Tennessee | $96,730 | $65,380 | $105,050 | 170 | 0.24 |
| Texas | $84,100 | $45,670 | $108,650 | 10,510 | 3.5 |
| Utah | $105,980 | $65,140 | $109,390 | 600 | 1.61 |
| Virginia | $58,970 | $40,300 | $103,390 | 250 | 0.28 |
| Washington | $103,620 | $76,950 | $114,980 | 930 | 1.23 |
| West Virginia | $83,910 | $72,430 | $97,400 | 330 | 2.22 |
| Wisconsin | $71,450 | $64,560 | $103,060 | ||
| Wyoming | $100,350 | $69,320 | $114,040 | 560 | 9.3 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
- Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled.
- Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Start pumps and open valves or use automated equipment to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and into and out of tanks.
- Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly.
- Patrol units to monitor the amount of oil in storage tanks, and to verify that activities and operations are safe, efficient, and in compliance with regulations.
- Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of system interconnections and capacities.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Email software
- Inventory tracking software
- Programmable logic controller PLC software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Board Operator, Crude Unit Operator, Gauger, Hydrotreater Operator, Operator, Outside Operator, Pumper, Refinery Operator, Stillman, Unit Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make?
The national median annual wage for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers was $96,710 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $57,110 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $115,880. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers to change -1.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($124,530), Louisiana ($106,640), Utah ($105,980). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.