Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by state
What Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugerss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringReading ComprehensionSpeakingComplex Problem Solving
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay by experience level
Entry level$59,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$80,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$100,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$110,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$120,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-2.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
3,200
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by industry
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
18,720 workers
$101,000
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
18,720 workers
$101,000
Pipeline Transportation
6,300 workers
$96,500
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
3,260 workers
$62,500
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only)
3,060 workers
$61,500
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
2,890 workers
$95,000
Other Pipeline Transportation
1,980 workers
$95,000
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1,430 workers
$102,000
Oil and Gas Extraction
1,280 workers
$97,000
Oil and Gas Extraction
1,280 workers
$97,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pays 68% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers make?
The average base salary for a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in the United States is $94,000 per year, or about $45.19 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $80,000 and $110,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
