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Refinery operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$96,710median pay per year, or $46.50 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $57,110lowest 10% earn less
  2. $77,51025th percentile
  3. $96,710median
  4. $106,32075th percentile
  5. $115,880top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators and gaugers had a median pay of $96,710 a year, well above the median for all occupations[1][2]. BLS projects employment to fall 1.9% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-1.9%[3]
Openings per year
2,700[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do refinery operators make?

O*NET lists refinery operator as a job title in the category Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers[7]. In May 2025, the median wage was $96,710 a year, or $46.50 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) wage was $90,630 a year, or $43.57 an hour[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $57,110 a year, and the 90th percentile was $115,880[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9]. The middle half of workers sat between $77,510 and $106,320 a year[4].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][10] $57,110 $27.46
25th percentile[4][10] $77,510 $37.27
Median[1] $96,710 $46.50
75th percentile[4][10] $106,320 $51.12
90th percentile[4][10] $115,880 $55.71

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980 a year[2]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].

Pay by state and city

Alaska had the highest state median at $124,530, followed by Louisiana at $106,640 and Utah at $105,980[12]. Connecticut had the lowest published median at $56,880[12].

The most jobs were in Texas (10,510), Louisiana (3,490), California (3,360), Oklahoma (1,390) and Illinois (1,070)[13]. Texas had a median of $84,100, lower than the three top-paying states[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[14], San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $117,660[14]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin followed at $111,370, then Salt Lake City-Murray at $109,390[14]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands had the most jobs, at 5,510, with a median of $84,100[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 1,700 jobs and New Orleans-Metairie had 1,560[15].

Show median pay in 42 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[12]$124,530370
Louisiana$106,6403,490
Utah$105,980600
Ohio$105,150800
New Jersey$104,540420
Washington$103,620930
California$103,2503,360
Illinois$102,8901,070
Minnesota$101,910550
Kansas$101,880950
Wyoming$100,350560
Montana$98,310550
Tennessee$96,730170
Oklahoma$95,1401,390
Hawaii$94,900280
Colorado$93,750120
North Dakota$93,130950
Iowa$90,16070
New York$88,88070
Arkansas$86,580220
Texas$84,10010,510
Michigan$84,030180
West Virginia$83,910330
Pennsylvania$83,870820
Missouri$80,960100
North Carolina$80,060130
Kentucky$78,670520
Maryland$78,58090
Mississippi$75,180860
New Mexico$74,340420
Alabama$73,51090
Wisconsin$71,450n/a
New Hampshire$70,050120
Indiana$67,420520
Maine$65,15060
Florida$63,480170
Nevada$62,42030
Arizona$60,070180
Virginia$58,970250
South Carolina$58,16070
Georgia$57,180240
Connecticut$56,880n/a

How to become a refinery operator

BLS describes the typical path in three parts[6]:

In an ONET survey of 21 workers, 97% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[16]. That is a small survey. ONET puts the work in Job Zone 1-2, which it describes as needing very little to some preparation[17]. The facts here do not give a length of training, a license or an exam.

What refinery operators do

O*NET describes the work as running or controlling petroleum refining or processing units, with some workers focused on pumping systems, gauging oil in tanks or controlling flow into pipelines[18]. Job titles that workers reported include board operator, crude unit operator, gauger and pumper[7]. Typical tasks include:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 32,900 to 32,300 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[20]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[3]. The OEWS count for May 2025 was about 33,160 wage and salary jobs[21].

Even with fewer jobs, BLS projects about 2,700 openings a year, on average[5]. Openings come from workers who leave as well as from new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.4% of workers leave the labor force and 6% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is high compared with all occupations, and the typical entry path starts with a high school diploma and on-the-job training[1][2][6]. Employment is projected to shrink slightly, so openings come mostly from workers leaving rather than new jobs[3][5]. The most jobs are in Texas, Louisiana and California, and pay differs by state and metro area[12][13][14].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a refinery operator make an hour?
The median wage for this category was $46.50 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $27.46 and the 90th percentile was $55.71[10].
What education do you need to be a refinery operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training as the typical path[6].
Which state pays refinery operators the most?
Alaska had the highest median at $124,530 a year, followed by Louisiana and Utah[12].
Is refinery operator work in demand?
BLS projects employment to decline 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3][20]. About 2,700 openings a year are projected[5].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in the US was $96,710 per year and $46.50 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers is projected to decline 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 32,900 to 32,300 jobs (a change of -600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: 10th percentile $57,110, 25th percentile $77,510, 75th percentile $106,320, 90th percentile $115,880. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,700 openings for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. O*NET 51-8093.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Board Operator, Crude Unit Operator, Gauger, Hydrotreater Operator, Operator, Outside Operator, Pumper, Refinery Operator. O*NET OnLine
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers was $90,630 per year and $43.57 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: 10th percentile $27.46, 25th percentile $37.27, 75th percentile $51.12, 90th percentile $55.71. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers jobs: Texas 10,510; Louisiana 3,490; California 3,360; Oklahoma 1,390; Illinois 1,070. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $117,660; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $111,370; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $109,390; Baton Rouge, LA $108,420; Toledo, OH $107,520; New Orleans-Metairie, LA $107,490; Wichita, KS $107,260; Tulsa, OK $107,170. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 5,510 (median $84,100); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,700 (median $103,250); New Orleans-Metairie, LA 1,560 (median $107,490); Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 1,480 (median $100,660); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 870 (median $117,660); Corpus Christi, TX 820 (median $78,630). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 51-8093.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 97% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 51-8093.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 33,160 people were employed as Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.