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.
Petroleum Pump System Operator Responsibilities
- Calculate test result values, using standard formulas.
- Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
- Conduct general housekeeping of units, including wiping up oil spills and performing general cleaning duties.
- Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly.
- 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.
- Read and analyze specifications, schedules, logs, test results, and laboratory recommendations to determine how to set equipment controls to produce the required qualities and quantities of products.
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Petroleum Pump System Operator Skills
When polled, Petroleum Pump System Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Types of Petroleum Pump System Operator
- Field Gauger
- Stillman
- Oil Refinery Operator
- Product Blending Supervisor
- Refining Equipment Operator
Is There Job Demand for Petroleum Pump System Operators?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 41,800 jobs in the United States for Petroleum Pump System Operator. 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. The BLS estimates 4,300 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
How Much Does a Petroleum Pump System Operator Make?
The salary for Petroleum Pump System Operators ranges between about $44,000 and $98,480 a year.

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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Petroleum Pump System Operators
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
Becoming a Petroleum Pump System Operator
What education or degrees do I need to become a Petroleum Pump System Operator?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Petroleum Pump System Operators Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Petroleum Pump System Operators employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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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