Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary in the U.S.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in the U.S. earn a median of $96,710 a year ($46.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 33,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,880 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $90,630, close to the median.
Pay range for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,110 | $27.46 |
| 25th percentile | $77,510 | $37.27 |
| Median | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| 75th percentile | $106,320 | $51.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,880 | $55.71 |
| Average (mean) | $90,630 | $43.57 |
Half of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,059.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,029.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,719.62 |
| Weekly | $1,859.81 |
| Hourly | $46.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $124,530 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $106,640 | 3,490 |
| Utah | $105,980 | 600 |
| Ohio | $105,150 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $104,540 | 420 |
| Washington | $103,620 | 930 |
| California | $103,250 | 3,360 |
| Illinois | $102,890 | 1,070 |
| Minnesota | $101,910 | 550 |
| Kansas | $101,880 | 950 |
| Wyoming | $100,350 | 560 |
| Montana | $98,310 | 550 |
| Tennessee | $96,730 | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $95,140 | 1,390 |
| Hawaii | $94,900 | 280 |
| Colorado | $93,750 | 120 |
| North Dakota | $93,130 | 950 |
| Iowa | $90,160 | 70 |
| New York | $88,880 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $86,580 | 220 |
| Texas | $84,100 | 10,510 |
| Michigan | $84,030 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $83,910 | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,870 | 820 |
| Missouri | $80,960 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $80,060 | 130 |
| Kentucky | $78,670 | 520 |
| Maryland | $78,580 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $75,180 | 860 |
| New Mexico | $74,340 | 420 |
| Alabama | $73,510 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $71,450 | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $70,050 | 120 |
| Indiana | $67,420 | 520 |
| Maine | $65,150 | 60 |
| Florida | $63,480 | 170 |
| Nevada | $62,420 | 30 |
| Arizona | $60,070 | 180 |
| Virginia | $58,970 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $58,160 | 70 |
| Georgia | $57,180 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $56,880 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $44,470 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $117,660 | 870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $111,370 | 620 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $109,390 | 120 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $108,420 | 660 |
| Toledo, OH | $107,520 | 320 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $107,490 | 1,560 |
| Wichita, KS | $107,260 | 370 |
| Tulsa, OK | $107,170 | 570 |
| Ogden, UT | $105,980 | 430 |
| Bellingham, WA | $105,640 | 380 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $105,580 | 590 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $104,540 | 340 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $103,250 | 1,700 |
| Billings, MT | $103,110 | 380 |
| Vallejo, CA | $103,040 | 130 |
Metro areas with the most petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,510 | $84,100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,700 | $103,250 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,560 | $107,490 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 1,480 | $100,660 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 870 | $117,660 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 820 | $78,630 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 660 | $108,420 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 620 | $111,370 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 590 | $105,580 |
| Tulsa, OK | 570 | $107,170 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 450 | $101,910 |
| Ogden, UT | 430 | $105,980 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 420 | $78,670 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 400 | $67,940 |
| Bellingham, WA | 380 | $105,640 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | $37.80 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $78,120 | $37.56 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $106,730 | $51.31 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | $59.08 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Machinist | $58,750 | $28.24 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the U.S. is $96,710 a year, or $46.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the U.S. earn at least $115,880 a year. The top 25% earn $106,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,110 a year, and a quarter of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn $77,510 or less.
How many petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers work in the U.S.?
About 33,160 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.