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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.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41,630 | 3.8 % | $32.63 | $67,870 | 1.0 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $20.17 | $25.69 | $32.40 | $38.88 | $46.19 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $41,960 | $53,430 | $67,400 | $80,860 | $96,070 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 20,600 | 18.48 | $34.54 | $71,850 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 5,360 | 2.96 | $31.03 | $64,530 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 2,420 | 0.86 | $26.75 | $55,630 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | 2,420 | 29.65 | $32.58 | $67,780 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 2,110 | 1.40 | $33.59 | $69,860 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Pipeline Transportation | 2,420 | 29.65 | $32.58 | $67,780 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 2,030 | 18.96 | $34.21 | $71,160 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 20,600 | 18.48 | $34.54 | $71,850 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 1,610 | 5.43 | $31.37 | $65,240 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 5,360 | 2.96 | $31.03 | $64,530 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Gas Distribution | 590 | 0.52 | $35.01 | $72,820 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 20,600 | 18.48 | $34.54 | $71,850 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 2,030 | 18.96 | $34.21 | $71,160 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 350 | 0.02 | $33.96 | $70,640 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | (8) | (8) | $33.69 | $70,080 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 10,570 | 0.90 | 3.04 | $34.47 | $71,700 |
| Louisiana | 6,080 | 3.17 | 10.68 | $33.26 | $69,180 |
| California | 4,700 | 0.29 | 0.99 | $35.82 | $74,510 |
| Oklahoma | 1,810 | 1.14 | 3.85 | $33.04 | $68,730 |
| Ohio | 1,430 | 0.27 | 0.90 | $30.99 | $64,460 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 870 | 3.17 | 10.68 | $33.21 | $69,080 |
| Louisiana | 6,080 | 3.17 | 10.68 | $33.26 | $69,180 |
| North Dakota | 680 | 1.61 | 5.42 | $32.16 | $66,880 |
| Alaska | 490 | 1.51 | 5.08 | $36.24 | $75,380 |
| New Mexico | 990 | 1.23 | 4.13 | $31.50 | $65,520 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 490 | 0.20 | 0.66 | $37.83 | $78,690 |
| Mississippi | (8) | (8) | (8) | $37.40 | $77,790 |
| Hawaii | 370 | 0.58 | 1.97 | $36.32 | $75,550 |
| Alaska | 490 | 1.51 | 5.08 | $36.24 | $75,380 |
| California | 4,700 | 0.29 | 0.99 | $35.82 | $74,510 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 4,470 | 1.52 | 5.14 | $32.78 | $68,180 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,550 | 4.56 | 15.39 | $34.90 | $72,580 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 2,080 | 12.79 | 43.12 | $39.25 | $81,650 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,720 | 1.58 | 5.34 | $38.91 | $80,930 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,660 | 4.20 | 14.16 | $34.51 | $71,780 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,360 | 0.32 | 1.09 | $35.44 | $73,720 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,030 | 5.55 | 18.71 | $38.15 | $79,340 |
| Tulsa, OK | 610 | 1.42 | 4.78 | $35.43 | $73,700 |
| Lafayette, LA | 530 | 2.58 | 8.70 | $28.36 | $58,990 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 500 | 0.44 | 1.50 | $29.19 | $60,720 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 2,080 | 12.79 | 43.12 | $39.25 | $81,650 |
| Farmington, NM | 490 | 9.88 | 33.31 | $30.46 | $63,360 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,030 | 5.55 | 18.71 | $38.15 | $79,340 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 480 | 4.70 | 15.86 | $31.99 | $66,540 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,550 | 4.56 | 15.39 | $34.90 | $72,580 |
| Midland, TX | 370 | 4.33 | 14.59 | $31.42 | $65,340 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,660 | 4.20 | 14.16 | $34.51 | $71,780 |
| Billings, MT | 350 | 4.03 | 13.59 | $31.53 | $65,590 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 290 | 3.22 | 10.87 | $26.88 | $55,900 |
| Lafayette, LA | 530 | 2.58 | 8.70 | $28.36 | $58,990 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 430 | 0.49 | 1.64 | $43.06 | $89,570 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 120 | 0.68 | 2.31 | $42.89 | $89,200 |
| Bellingham, WA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $40.76 | $84,780 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 330 | 0.23 | 0.78 | $39.72 | $82,610 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 2,080 | 12.79 | 43.12 | $39.25 | $81,650 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,720 | 1.58 | 5.34 | $38.91 | $80,930 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,030 | 5.55 | 18.71 | $38.15 | $79,340 |
| Anchorage, AK | 40 | 0.23 | 0.78 | $37.92 | $78,870 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 50 | 0.07 | 0.24 | $36.85 | $76,640 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 340 | 0.72 | 2.44 | $36.39 | $75,680 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Texas nonmetropolitan area | 710 | 3.67 | 12.39 | $36.61 | $76,150 |
| Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 520 | 4.23 | 14.28 | $34.42 | $71,590 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 480 | 3.68 | 12.41 | $32.80 | $68,220 |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 6.39 | 21.56 | $31.72 | $65,970 |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 2.82 | 9.52 | $36.68 | $76,290 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central-Southeast Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 8.03 | 27.09 | $30.79 | $64,040 |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 6.39 | 21.56 | $31.72 | $65,970 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 5.74 | 19.37 | $33.26 | $69,190 |
| Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 520 | 4.23 | 14.28 | $34.42 | $71,590 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 480 | 3.68 | 12.41 | $32.80 | $68,220 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 2.82 | 9.52 | $36.68 | $76,290 |
| West Texas nonmetropolitan area | 710 | 3.67 | 12.39 | $36.61 | $76,150 |
| Southwest Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 2.67 | 9.02 | $36.18 | $75,260 |
| Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 520 | 4.23 | 14.28 | $34.42 | $71,590 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 5.74 | 19.37 | $33.26 | $69,190 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017