Occupation salary profile

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

SOC 51-8093 BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

National median · BLS
$96,710
▼ -0.85% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$90,630
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
33,160
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$57,110
25th$77,510
Median (50th)$96,710
75th$106,320
90th — top pay$115,880

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

BLS projects employment of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers to decline 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 2,700 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
32,900 → 32,300
-600 jobs
Projected change
-1.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,700
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operations Monitoring4.0
  • Operation and Control3.8
  • Monitoring3.6
  • Reading Comprehension3.5
  • Complex Problem Solving3.1
  • Speaking3.1
  • Active Learning3.0
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Critical Thinking3.0
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Production and Processing3.6
  • Public Safety and Security3.6
  • Mechanical3.5
  • Administration and Management3.5
  • Mathematics3.2
  • English Language3.2
  • Computers and Electronics3.0
  • Chemistry3.0
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordEmail softwareInventory tracking softwareProgrammable logic controller PLC softwareSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

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

  • 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.
Also called
GaugerOperatorPumperRefinery OperatorBoard OperatorCrude Unit OperatorHydrotreater OperatorOutside OperatorStillmanUnit Operator
More job titles for this occupation (36)
Absorption Plant OperatorControl Board OperatorControl OperatorControl Panel OperatorControl Panel Technician (Control Panel Tech)Dock OperatorField GaugerFuel Distribution System OperatorGas House Technician (Gas House Tech)Gasoline Plant OperatorHydrovac OperatorIn-House Technician (In-House Tech)Offshore Production WorkerOil GaugerOil Pipeline DispatcherOil Pipeline OperatorOil PumperOil RefinerPanel OperatorPetrol Production GaugerPetroleum Plant OperatorPetroleum Refinery Control Panel OperatorPetroleum Refinery OperatorPetroleum Refinery WorkerPetroleum Refining Equipment OperatorPetroleum Supply SpecialistPilot Plant OperatorPipeline Operations TechnicianPlant OperatorPressure ControllerProcess OperatorRefinerRefining Equipment OperatorSpecialty Gas BlenderTank Terminal GaugerTerminal Gauger

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.