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
SOC: 51-8093 O*NET: 51-8093.00
Median Salary
$97,540
per year
Job Growth
📉 -2.8%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
3.2
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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.
What does a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$59,790
10th percentile
Early Career
$77,970
25th percentile
Median
$97,540
50th percentile
Experienced
$104,660
75th percentile
Top Earners
$112,920
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$59,790
25th
$77,970
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$97,540
Mean: $90,970
75th
$104,660
90th
$112,920
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $53,130 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $77,970 and $104,660
- •Salary spread is 27.4% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 34,860 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:34,900
Top Industries
Manufacturing61.1%
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing58.6%
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing58.6%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-2.8%
Annual Openings:3,200
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)34,900
Current
2034 (Projected)34,000
-2.8%
-1,000
Employment Change
-2.8%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 41 locations
Texas
12,060 jobs$97,9703.85x
California
3,640 jobs$107,2700.89x
Louisiana
3,520 jobs$98,9308.14x
Oklahoma
1,340 jobs$89,8503.50x
Illinois
1,100 jobs$98,2400.81x
Mississippi
1,080 jobs$77,0904.13x
Kansas
1,030 jobs$102,2003.18x
Washington
1,030 jobs$99,6901.29x
Pennsylvania
1,030 jobs$87,3900.76x
Ohio
720 jobs$104,1400.58x
Wyoming
700 jobs$96,47011.07x
Utah
660 jobs$101,9201.71x
Kentucky
610 jobs$80,0501.35x
Minnesota
570 jobs$98,7200.86x
Montana
570 jobs$97,8404.95x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operations Monitoring
100%
#2
Operation and Control
94%
#3
Monitoring
86%
#4
Reading Comprehension
80%
#5
Complex Problem Solving
74%
#6
Speaking
66%
#7
Active Listening
60%
#8
Judgment and Decision Making
54%
#9
Critical Thinking
46%
#10
Active Learning
40%
Skills Overview
Operations Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Operation and Control
advanced4.7
94%
Monitoring
intermediate4.3
86%
Reading Comprehension
basic4.0
80%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced3.7
74%
Speaking
intermediate3.3
66%
Active Listening
intermediate3.0
60%
Judgment and Decision Making
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Operations Monitoring
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Operation and Control
advancedImportance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Commercial Pilots100%
5 shared skills
Locomotive Engineers100%
5 shared skills
Agricultural Inspectors82%
5 shared skills
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers82%
5 shared skills
Power Plant Operators82%
5 shared skills
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Speaking
- →Active Listening
- →Judgment and Decision Making
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Operation and Control
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Operation and Control
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Complex Problem Solving
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (9)Operations & Execution (4)Communication & Coordination (2)Planning & Development (1)Analysis & Evaluation (2)Documentation & Record-Keeping (3)
1
Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Start pumps and open valves or use automated equipment to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and into and out of tanks.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Control or operate manifold and pumping systems to circulate liquids through a petroleum refinery.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution94% perform96%
4
Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Communication & Coordination91% perform94%
5
Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution88% perform92%
6
Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Read automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Operate auxiliary equipment and control multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations, moving controls that regulate valves, pumps, compressors, and auxiliary equipment.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution79% perform86%
9
Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of system interconnections and capacities.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Planning & Development76% perform84%
10
Read and analyze specifications, schedules, logs, test results, and laboratory recommendations to determine how to set equipment controls to produce the required qualities and quantities of products.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.33
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.12
Independence
Very ImportantIndependence
Importance Level4.08
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.07
Analytical Thinking
ImportantAnalytical Thinking
Importance Level3.98
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.95
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.3
Attention to Detail
4.1
Independence
4.1
Integrity
4.1
Analytical Thinking
4.0
Self-Control
4.0
Cooperation
3.9
Concern for Others
3.9
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.9
Initiative
3.9
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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