Production

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

See live petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers jobs Compare this career
17/100
Jobs.best score
#414 of 825
$96,710
median pay, U.S.
33,160
employed (2024)
-2.8%
growth, 2024–34
3,200
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers a good career?

It scores 17/100 and ranks #414 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($96,710 vs $61,390)
  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Employment is projected to decline (-2.8% through 2034)

What petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn between $77,510 and $106,320 a year.

Best-paying states

same axis · ranked by median
Alaska statewide
$124,530
Louisiana statewide
$106,640
Utah statewide
$105,980
Ohio statewide
$105,150
New Jersey statewide
$104,540
Washington statewide
$103,620
California statewide
$103,250
Illinois statewide
$102,890
Minnesota statewide
$101,910
Kansas statewide
$101,880
$40k $110k $180k

Best-paying metros

01 San Francisco, CA $117,660
02 Chicago, IL $111,370
03 Salt Lake City, UT $109,390
04 Baton Rouge, LA $108,420
05 Toledo, OH $107,520
06 New Orleans, LA $107,490
07 Wichita, KS $107,260
08 Tulsa, OK $107,170

Strongest employment concentration

01 Texas 10,510
02 Louisiana 3,490
03 California 3,360
04 Oklahoma 1,390
05 Illinois 1,070
06 Kansas 950

Live petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers jobs

No live petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers openings will appear here — each shown against the $96,710 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

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How to become a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Requirements from the Employment Projections program. This occupation has no Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.

Related occupations

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
High school diploma or equivalent · $60,020 median
Power Plant Operators
High school diploma or equivalent · $102,040 median
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
High school diploma or equivalent · $78,620 median
Questions about becoming a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make?

The national median wage is $96,710 a year, with the middle half earning between $77,510 and $106,320 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 17 of 100 and ranks #414 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -2.8% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn the most?

Among states, Alaska pays the highest median ($124,530). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →
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