Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
Production Occupations · 33K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$96,710
Median hourly
$46
Average annual
$90,630
Typical range
$57,110–$115,880
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers is $96,710 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $46 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines..
Most earn between $57,110 and $115,880 a year. There are roughly 33K people employed as petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers.
- Hourly
- $46.50
- Daily
- $372
- Weekly
- $1,860
- Bi-weekly
- $3,720
- Monthly
- $8,059
- Annual
- $96,710
$96,710 a year is around the 50th percentile for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugerss. The median is $96,710.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Alaska$124,530
- 2Louisiana$106,640
- 3Utah$105,980
- 4Ohio$105,150
- 5New Jersey$104,540
- 6Washington$103,620
- 7California$103,250
- 8Illinois$102,890
- 9Minnesota$101,910
- 10Kansas$101,880
- 11Wyoming$100,350
- 12Montana$98,310
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$117,660
- 2Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$111,370
- 3Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$109,390
- 4Baton Rouge, LA$108,420
- 5Toledo, OH$107,520
- 6New Orleans-Metairie, LA$107,490
- 7Wichita, KS$107,260
- 8Tulsa, OK$107,170
- 9Ogden, UT$105,980
- 10Bellingham, WA$105,640
- 11Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$105,580
- 12New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$104,540
Related job titles
Employers advertise Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers roles under these titles.
- Absorption Plant Operator
- Control Operator
- Control Panel Operator
- Control Panel Technician (Control Panel Tech)
- Crude Unit Operator
- Dock Operator
- Field Gauger
- Fuel Distribution System Operator
- Gas House Technician (Gas House Tech)
- Gasoline Plant Operator
- Hydrotreater Operator
- Hydrovac Operator
- In-House Technician (In-House Tech)
- Offshore Production Worker
- Oil Gauger
- Oil Pipeline Dispatcher
Related occupations
- Gas Plant Operators$87,820
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators$77,320
- Wellhead Pumpers$69,960
- Power Plant Operators$102,040
- Chemical Plant and System Operators$78,120
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$61,770
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$78,620
- Plant and System Operators, All Other$62,470
What a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers does
- 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.
- Control or operate manifold and pumping systems to circulate liquids through a petroleum refinery.
- Operate auxiliary equipment and control multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations, moving controls that regulate valves, pumps, compressors, and auxiliary equipment.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers make?
- The median annual wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers is $96,710 ($46 per hour). Pay ranges from about $57,110 at the 10th percentile to $115,880 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $90,630, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugerss the most?
- Alaska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $124,530.
- Is Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 33K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers do?
- 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..