# Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/petroleum-pump-system-operators-refinery-operators-and-gaugers
- SOC code: 51-8093.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $96,710 (10th percentile $57,110, 90th percentile $115,880)
- Projected growth: Decline, -1.9%
- Openings a year: 2,700
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 86 |
| Investigative (I) | 24 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 6 |
| Enterprising (E) | 21 |
| Conventional (C) | 68 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 81/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 79/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 78/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 75/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 73/100)
- Getting Information (importance 72/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 66/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 65/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 63/100)

## 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

## 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

## Related careers

- [Gas Plant Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gas-plant-operators): $87,820 median pay
- [Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gas-compressor-and-gas-pumping-station-operators): $77,320 median pay
- [Wellhead Pumpers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wellhead-pumpers): $69,960 median pay
- [Power Plant Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/power-plant-operators): $102,040 median pay
- [Chemical Plant and System Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-plant-and-system-operators): $78,120 median pay
- [Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pump-operators-except-wellhead-pumpers): $61,770 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.