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Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in California

Thinking about a career as a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in California? Here’s what you need to know. 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.

$107,270 Median Annual Wage (California)

$59,684 National Median Annual Wage

3,640 California Employment

Some Preparation Needed Typical Preparation

What do Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Make in California?

For petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers working in California, wages run about $107,270 per year (or roughly $51.57/hour).Annual wages span from $61,430 at the 10th percentile to $124,040 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$61,430	$29.54
25th percentile	$89,500	$43.03
Median (50th)	$107,270	$51.57
75th percentile	$119,530	$57.47
90th percentile	$124,040	$59.63

Salary ranges for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in California

The job concentration index in California compared to the national average — is 0.89, meaning fewer petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn a median of $59,684 per year ($28.69/hour), higher than the California median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 820,152 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the U.S.. In California alone, around 3,640 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 280 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers.

Forecasted number of jobs for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Top California Metros for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

The metro areas below employ the most petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	1,770	$107,270
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	1,010	$115,980
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	250	$94,470
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	140	$60,750
Vallejo, CA	120	$107,570
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	90	$73,670
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	30	$76,850

Top States for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Employment

View the states that employ the most petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	12,060
California	3,640
Louisiana	3,520
Oklahoma	1,340
Illinois	1,100
Mississippi	1,080
Washington	1,030
Pennsylvania	1,030
Kansas	1,030
Ohio	720
Wyoming	700
Utah	660
Kentucky	610
Montana	570
Minnesota	570
New Jersey	470
New Mexico	400
West Virginia	380
Indiana	350
Hawaii	300

Highest-Paying States for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

These states pay the most for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers.

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

Skills

Key petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Operations Monitoring 4.0 / 5

Operation and Control 3.8 / 5

Monitoring 3.6 / 5

Reading Comprehension 3.5 / 5

Complex Problem Solving 3.1 / 5

Speaking 3.1 / 5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Production and Processing 3.6 / 5

Public Safety and Security 3.6 / 5

Mechanical 3.5 / 5

Administration and Management 3.5 / 5

Mathematics 3.2 / 5

English Language 3.2 / 5

Abilities

Top abilities for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Information Ordering 3.8 / 5

Flexibility of Closure 3.8 / 5

Near Vision 3.8 / 5

Perceptual Speed 3.8 / 5

Problem Sensitivity 3.6 / 5

Selective Attention 3.5 / 5

Daily Tasks

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers typically:

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.
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.
Collect product samples by turning bleeder valves, or by lowering containers into tanks to obtain oil samples.
Read automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.

Work Activities

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Controlling Machines and Processes
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Performing General Physical Activities
Getting Information
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Documenting/Recording Information
Handling and Moving Objects
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Careers similar to petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers include:

Also Known As

Absorption Plant Operator, Board Operator, Control Board 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, Gauger, Hydrotreater Operator, Hydrovac Operator.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
O*NET-SOC code: 51-8093.00

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