Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Peer-group outlier SOC 51-8093

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Median pay sits 42% above the mid peer in Production Occupations (neighbors include Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers, Power Plant Operators, Chemical Plant and System Operators).

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($123K) , Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers ($65K) , Power Plant Operators ($102K) , Chemical Plant and System Operators ($78K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-8093 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures
  2. 2. Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled
  3. 3. Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems
  4. 4. Start pumps and open valves or use automated equipment to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and into and out of tanks
  5. 5. Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, ac…
  6. 6. Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly
  7. 7. Patrol units to monitor the amount of oil in storage tanks, and to verify that activities and operations are safe, efficient, and in comp…
  8. 8. Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of system interconnections and capaci…
  9. 9. Control or operate manifold and pumping systems to circulate liquids through a petroleum refinery
  10. 10. Operate auxiliary equipment and control multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations, moving controls that regulate…
  11. 11. Collect product samples by turning bleeder valves, or by lowering containers into tanks to obtain oil samples
  12. 12. Read automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks

O*NET skills and knowledge for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-8093 - entity-keyed; sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Operations Monitoring 4.0
  2. 2. Operation and Control 3.8
  3. 3. Monitoring 3.6
  4. 4. Reading Comprehension 3.5
  5. 5. Speaking 3.1
  6. 6. Complex Problem Solving 3.1
  7. 7. Active Listening 3.0
  8. 8. Writing 3.0

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Production and Processing 3.6
  2. 2. Public Safety and Security 3.6
  3. 3. Mechanical 3.5
  4. 4. Administration and Management 3.5
  5. 5. Mathematics 3.2
  6. 6. English Language 3.2
Pay vs Production Occupations peers
+42%
vs mid peer median $68,120
This role $96,710/yr
$97K
National median
↓ -3%
Growth 2024-2034
3,200
Annual openings
33,160
Estimated US jobs
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Highest-pay peer · $123K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

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

1. Alaska $124,530
2. Illinois $102,890
3. Ohio $105,150
4. Minnesota $101,910
5. California $103,250
6. Washington $103,620
7. New Jersey $104,540
8. Kansas $101,880
9. Louisiana $106,640
10. Utah $105,980

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Power Plant Operators $102,040
  2. 2. Chemical Plant and System Operators $78,120
  3. 3. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers $65,380
  4. 4. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,450
  5. 5. Gas Plant Operators $87,820
  6. 6. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators $122,890

Among Production Occupations peers on this card, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers sits 42% above the mid peer median ($68,120). Its own median is $96,710.

Employment Projections expect -3% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 3,200 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Alaska at $124,530. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators at $122,890. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

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Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034.

Dive into Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in more depth or explore nearby career data.

Full Salary Details

State, metro, and percentile breakdown

Jobs in Alaska

Top-paying state for this role

Jobs in Illinois

Second-highest state pay

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Highest-pay peer · $123K

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Lower-pay peer · $65K

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Highest-Paying Rankings

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Head-to-head with another role
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Peer-comparison next reads

Compare Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Against another occupation

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators card

Top peer in this major group

Frequently Asked Questions

What do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers. Leading ones include: 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. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers? ▼
For SOC 51-8093, O*NET importance scores lead with Operations Monitoring (4.0), Operation and Control (3.8), Monitoring (3.6), Reading Comprehension (3.5). Knowledge areas emphasize Production and Processing, Public Safety and Security, Mechanical. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How does Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers sit next to other Production Occupations titles? ▼
On this card, neighboring same-major-group titles include Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers, Power Plant Operators, Chemical Plant and System Operators. Among those peers, Nuclear Power Reactor Operators holds the highest published national median ($122,890). Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers sits lower at $65,380. Peer titles are hash-ordered per card so adjacent SOC pages do not share an identical ladder.
What is the median salary for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers? ▼
The median salary for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers is $96,710 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 OEWS data). This means half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less. The full range is $57,110 (10th percentile) to $115,880 (90th percentile). For context beside Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($122,890), this role's median is the OEWS national figure above.
Is Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers a growing occupation? ▼
The BLS projects -3% employment change for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers from 2024 to 2034. There are approximately 3,200 projected annual openings. This is declining relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%.
What education do you need to become a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers? ▼
BLS assigns Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. These occupation-level categories are not requirements for every employer or worker.
Which states pay petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers the most? ▼
The highest published state medians in this ranking for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers are Alaska ($124,530), Illinois ($102,890), Ohio ($105,150). The table does not identify why state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

All federal data sources used on this page
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - wage estimates by area + occupation. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - occupation task statements (importance-ranked). onetcenter.org
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) - quarterly employment and wage totals by industry. bls.gov/cew
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for metro/state aggregates. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) - monthly nonfarm payroll baselines. bls.gov/ces
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context. irs.gov/statistics
  • BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) - unemployment context for labor-market comparisons. bls.gov/lau