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Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers earn a median $96,710 a year in the U.S., with 33,160 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $96,710 a year
- Employment
- 33,160
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- -1.9%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 2,700
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $96,710 · $46.50 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $90,630 · $43.57 an hour (estimate error ±0.9%)
- 10th percentile
- $57,110 · $27.46 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $77,510 · $37.27 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $106,320 · $51.12 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $115,880 · $55.71 an hour
- Employment
- 33,160 (estimate error ±2.9%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
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.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 32,900
- Projected for 2035
- 32,300
- Change
- -600 (-1.9%)
- Openings each year
- 2,700
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $124,530 | 370 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $106,640 | 3,490 |
| 3 | Utah | $105,980 | 600 |
| 4 | Ohio | $105,150 | 800 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $104,540 | 420 |
| 6 | Washington | $103,620 | 930 |
| 7 | California | $103,250 | 3,360 |
| 8 | Illinois | $102,890 | 1,070 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $101,910 | 550 |
| 10 | Kansas | $101,880 | 950 |
States with the most jobs
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| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 10,510 | $84,100 |
| Louisiana | 3,490 | $106,640 |
| California | 3,360 | $103,250 |
| Oklahoma | 1,390 | $95,140 |
| Illinois | 1,070 | $102,890 |
| Kansas | 950 | $101,880 |
| North Dakota | 950 | $93,130 |
| Washington | 930 | $103,620 |
| Mississippi | 860 | $75,180 |
| Pennsylvania | 820 | $83,870 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $117,660 | 870 |
| 2 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $111,370 | 620 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $109,390 | 120 |
| 4 | Baton Rouge, LA | $108,420 | 660 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $107,520 | 320 |
| 6 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $107,490 | 1,560 |
| 7 | Wichita, KS | $107,260 | 370 |
| 8 | Tulsa, OK | $107,170 | 570 |
| 9 | Ogden, UT | $105,980 | 430 |
| 10 | Bellingham, WA | $105,640 | 380 |
| 11 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $105,580 | 590 |
| 12 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $104,540 | 340 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,510 | $84,100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,700 | $103,250 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,560 | $107,490 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 1,480 | $100,660 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 870 | $117,660 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 820 | $78,630 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 660 | $108,420 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 620 | $111,370 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 590 | $105,580 |
| Tulsa, OK | 570 | $107,170 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 450 | $101,910 |
| Ogden, UT | 430 | $105,980 |
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make?
- The median wage for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the U.S. is $96,710 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,510 and $106,320.
- Which state pays petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers the most?
- Alaska has the highest median wage for this occupation at $124,530 a year.
- What is the job outlook for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
- BLS projects employment to decline 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,700 openings each year on average.
- What education do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers need?
- The typical entry-level education is: high school diploma or equivalent.