What You Need to Know About Petroleum Pump System Operator
Job Description & Duties 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.
A Day in the Life of a Petroleum Pump System Operator
- Clamp seals around valves to secure tanks.
- Read automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- 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.
- Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled.
- Perform tests to check the qualities and grades of products, such as assessing levels of bottom sediment, water, and foreign materials in oil samples, using centrifugal testers.
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Petroleum Pump System Operator Skills
Petroleum Pump System Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Petroleum Pump System Operator
- Gas House Technician
- Oil Process Stillman
- In-House Technician
- Operator
- Gauger
Job Demand for Petroleum Pump System Operators
There were about 41,800 jobs for Petroleum Pump System Operator in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,200 new jobs for Petroleum Pump System Operator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Petroleum Pump System Operator are Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Missouri, California, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Petroleum Pump System Operators Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Petroleum Pump System Operators is somewhere between $44,000 and $98,480.

Petroleum Pump System Operators who work in California, Illinois, or South Carolina, make the highest salaries.
How much do Petroleum Pump System Operators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $52,630 |
Alaska | $78,810 |
Arizona | $54,690 |
Arkansas | $58,680 |
California | $81,310 |
Colorado | $77,390 |
Connecticut | $57,140 |
Florida | $50,840 |
Georgia | $60,220 |
Illinois | $79,260 |
Indiana | $56,420 |
Iowa | $67,420 |
Kansas | $63,480 |
Kentucky | $65,570 |
Louisiana | $71,930 |
Maryland | $48,890 |
Massachusetts | $56,340 |
Michigan | $59,700 |
Minnesota | $61,720 |
Missouri | $47,820 |
Montana | $80,340 |
Nebraska | $68,650 |
New Hampshire | $63,840 |
New Mexico | $69,090 |
New York | $53,470 |
North Carolina | $58,420 |
North Dakota | $70,900 |
Ohio | $69,250 |
Oklahoma | $71,020 |
Oregon | $73,580 |
Pennsylvania | $59,430 |
South Carolina | $73,460 |
South Dakota | $54,280 |
Tennessee | $48,820 |
Texas | $72,610 |
Utah | $65,300 |
Virginia | $50,630 |
Washington | $60,990 |
West Virginia | $68,440 |
Wisconsin | $62,390 |
Wyoming | $74,270 |
What Tools do Petroleum Pump System Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Petroleum Pump System Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Email software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Inventory tracking software
How do I Become a Petroleum Pump System Operator?
Learn what Petroleum Pump System Operator education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Petroleum Pump System Operator?

Who Employs Petroleum Pump System Operators?

Petroleum Pump System Operators work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Are you already one of the many Petroleum Pump System Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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