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.
Also called: Board Operator · Crude Unit Operator · Gauger · Hydrotreater Operator · Operator · Outside Operator
Median pay (national)
$97,540
$59,790–$112,920 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
34,860
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-2.8%
~3,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $112,920 versus $59,790 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $97,540 leaves roughly 16% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -2.8% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 3,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 42 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $107,270, +10% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $31,920 — a 236% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Control or operate manifold and pumping systems to circulate liquids through a petroleum refinery.
- Operate auxiliary equipment and control multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations, moving controls that regulate valves, pumps, compressors, and auxiliary equipment.
- Collect product samples by turning bleeder valves, or by lowering containers into tanks to obtain oil samples.
- Synchronize activities with other pumphouses to ensure a continuous flow of products and a minimum of contamination between products.
Tools & technology
- Inventory tracking software
- Programmable logic controller PLC software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Chemistry