Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Production · SOC 51-8093 · O*NET 51-8093.00
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.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers earn a median salary of $97,540 per year, ranking in the top 15% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -2.8% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn?
The median annual wage for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers is $97,540. That puts petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers at #119 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $59,790 |
| 25th percentile | $77,970 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,540 |
| 75th percentile | $104,660 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $112,920 |
| Median hourly wage | $46.90/hr |
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers is -2.8%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 34K positions in 2024 to 34K in 2034, a net change of 0K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.
What do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
- 2.Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled.
- 3.Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- 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.Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- 6.Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly.
- 7.Patrol units to monitor the amount of oil in storage tanks, and to verify that activities and operations are safe, efficient, and in compliance with regulations.
- 8.Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of system interconnections and capacities.
Top skills for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger?
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
What is the median salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
The median annual salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers is $97,540 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers a growing career?
BLS projects -2.8% growth for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers from 2024 through 2034, which is declining growth projected to lose jobs through 2034.
What education does my child need to become petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Related occupations within the Production category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.