SOC 51-8093.00

    Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

    Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units.

    Median pay
    $96,710
    Growth
    -1.9%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    2,700
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

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    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $57,110
    Median
    $96,710
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $115,880
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    33,160 people work in this occupation.

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

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    86 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    24 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    6 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    21 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    68 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    81
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    79
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    78
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    77
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    75
    Performing General Physical Activities
    73
    Getting Information
    72
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    66
    Documenting/Recording Information
    65
    Handling and Moving Objects
    63
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operations Monitoring
    • Operation and Control
    • Monitoring
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Speaking
    • Active Learning
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making

    Knowledge

    • Production and Processing
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Mechanical
    • Administration and Management
    • Mathematics
    • English Language
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Chemistry
    • Education and Training
    • Engineering and Technology

    Abilities

    • Flexibility of Closure
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision
    • Perceptual Speed
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Selective Attention
    • Auditory Attention
    • Hearing Sensitivity
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Speech Recognition

    Work styles

    • Cautiousness
    • Dependability
    • Attention to Detail
    • Integrity
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Self-Control
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Self-Confidence
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    Absorption Plant Operator · Board Operator · Control Board Operator · Control Operator · Control Panel Operator · Control Panel Technician (Control Panel Tech) · Crude Unit Operator · Dock Operator · Field Gauger · Fuel Distribution System Operator

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    2 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

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    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.