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Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: Career Overview
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.
What Tasks Do Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Do?
The core tasks performed by petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers cover:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Absorption Plant Operator
- Board Operator
- Control Board Operator
- Control Operator
- Control Panel Operator
- Control Panel Technician (Control Panel Tech)
- Crude Unit Operator
- Dock Operator
Employment and Demand
There are about 820,152 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -3.5% over the projection horizon.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $59,684 |
| Hourly median | $28.69 |
| 10th percentile | $43,513 |
| 25th percentile | $51,599 |
| 75th percentile | $67,769 |
| 90th percentile | $75,854 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $107,270 |
| Alaska | $105,380 |
| Ohio | $104,140 |
| Kansas | $102,200 |
| Utah | $101,920 |
| New Jersey | $101,340 |
| Washington | $99,690 |
| Louisiana | $98,930 |
| Minnesota | $98,720 |
| Illinois | $98,240 |
| North Dakota | $98,010 |
| Texas | $97,970 |
| Montana | $97,840 |
| Wyoming | $96,470 |
| Iowa | $93,760 |
| Oklahoma | $89,850 |
| Hawaii | $87,420 |
| Michigan | $87,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,390 |
| Tennessee | $84,340 |
| Nebraska | $83,750 |
| Colorado | $83,670 |
| Wisconsin | $83,070 |
| Maryland | $81,750 |
| Arkansas | $81,490 |
| West Virginia | $81,190 |
| Virginia | $80,650 |
| Kentucky | $80,050 |
| Georgia | $80,020 |
| Missouri | $78,480 |
| Indiana | $77,450 |
| Mississippi | $77,090 |
| New York | $74,600 |
| Arizona | $73,230 |
| North Carolina | $72,090 |
| South Carolina | $68,920 |
| New Mexico | $67,380 |
| Maine | $62,230 |
| Florida | $60,830 |
| Nevada | $56,470 |
| Alabama | $51,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,920 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $104,184 | 15.3% | 1.19 |
| Plains States | $99,310 | 5.9% | 2.16 |
| Rocky Mountains | $97,452 | 6.1% | 5.57 |
| Southwest | $95,997 | 40.5% | 3.72 |
| Great Lakes | $95,830 | 7.0% | 0.63 |
| Middle Atlantic | $89,840 | 5.1% | 0.60 |
| Southeast | $88,457 | 19.6% | 5.22 |
| New England | $62,230 | 0.3% | 0.70 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $115,980 | 1,010 |
| Tulsa, OK | OK | $110,180 | 580 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $107,570 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $107,270 | 1,770 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $106,360 | 570 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | LA | $105,860 | 1,590 |
| Toledo, OH | OH | $104,140 | 330 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $103,280 | 6,200 |
Which Industries Hire Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
The bulk of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21,290 | $100,970 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 7,890 | $93,010 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 2,070 | $80,380 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,060 | $52,760 |
| Construction | 230 | $85,660 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 200 | $63,460 |
| Utilities | 190 | $60,570 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 110 | $104,000 |
Below are examples of industries where petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers work:
Software Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
Getting Started in This Career
Most petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Biomass Power Plant Managers (Supplemental)
- Petroleum Engineers (Supplemental)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Supplemental)
- Geothermal Technicians (Supplemental)
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers (Supplemental)
- Power Plant Operators (Primary-Short)
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers).
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