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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38,700 | 4.0 % | $32.78 | $68,190 | 1.2 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $20.20 | $25.09 | $32.58 | $39.47 | $46.94 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $42,020 | $52,180 | $67,770 | $82,090 | $97,640 |
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 | 20,310 | 18.00 | $34.59 | $71,940 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 3,870 | 2.86 | $31.42 | $65,340 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | 2,480 | 30.49 | $33.73 | $70,160 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 2,080 | 0.76 | $25.69 | $53,430 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 1,990 | 6.84 | $32.11 | $66,790 |
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 | 2,480 | 30.49 | $33.73 | $70,160 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 20,310 | 18.00 | $34.59 | $71,940 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 1,910 | 15.85 | $34.71 | $72,210 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 1,990 | 6.84 | $32.11 | $66,790 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 3,870 | 2.86 | $31.42 | $65,340 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 1,910 | 15.85 | $34.71 | $72,210 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 20,310 | 18.00 | $34.59 | $71,940 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 110 | 0.03 | $34.57 | $71,910 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 370 | 0.02 | $34.14 | $71,020 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | 2,480 | 30.49 | $33.73 | $70,160 |
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 | 10,190 | 0.86 | 3.16 | $34.51 | $71,790 |
| Louisiana | 5,330 | 2.80 | 10.33 | $32.47 | $67,530 |
| California | 4,530 | 0.27 | 1.00 | $37.34 | $77,660 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,550 | 0.27 | 0.99 | $27.28 | $56,740 |
| Oklahoma | 1,470 | 0.93 | 3.44 | $35.27 | $73,360 |
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 | 890 | 3.31 | 12.18 | $34.58 | $71,920 |
| Louisiana | 5,330 | 2.80 | 10.33 | $32.47 | $67,530 |
| North Dakota | 720 | 1.72 | 6.35 | $33.45 | $69,570 |
| Alaska | 350 | 1.09 | 4.02 | $40.74 | $84,730 |
| New Mexico | 850 | 1.06 | 3.92 | $31.76 | $66,050 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 350 | 1.09 | 4.02 | $40.74 | $84,730 |
| California | 4,530 | 0.27 | 1.00 | $37.34 | $77,660 |
| Hawaii | 290 | 0.46 | 1.69 | $37.32 | $77,620 |
| Colorado | 450 | 0.18 | 0.65 | $36.89 | $76,720 |
| Oklahoma | 1,470 | 0.93 | 3.44 | $35.27 | $73,360 |
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 | 4,010 | 1.37 | 5.04 | $33.21 | $69,080 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 2,180 | 13.61 | 50.13 | $39.78 | $82,740 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,180 | 3.93 | 14.49 | $34.38 | $71,510 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,690 | 1.49 | 5.48 | $40.00 | $83,190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,610 | 0.36 | 1.34 | $37.02 | $77,000 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,280 | 3.26 | 12.00 | $34.58 | $71,930 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,070 | 5.66 | 20.83 | $39.29 | $81,720 |
| Tulsa, OK | 510 | 1.19 | 4.38 | $38.32 | $79,710 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS | 480 | 3.22 | 11.87 | $41.40 | $86,120 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 480 | 4.25 | 15.67 | $32.41 | $67,420 |
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 | 2,180 | 13.61 | 50.13 | $39.78 | $82,740 |
| Farmington, NM | 290 | 5.99 | 22.07 | $30.59 | $63,630 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,070 | 5.66 | 20.83 | $39.29 | $81,720 |
| Billings, MT | 410 | 4.71 | 17.36 | $32.86 | $68,350 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 480 | 4.25 | 15.67 | $32.41 | $67,420 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,180 | 3.93 | 14.49 | $34.38 | $71,510 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,280 | 3.26 | 12.00 | $34.58 | $71,930 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS | 480 | 3.22 | 11.87 | $41.40 | $86,120 |
| Midland, TX | 280 | 3.20 | 11.77 | $32.63 | $67,870 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 210 | 2.52 | 9.28 | $25.47 | $52,970 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS | 480 | 3.22 | 11.87 | $41.40 | $86,120 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,690 | 1.49 | 5.48 | $40.00 | $83,190 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 2,180 | 13.61 | 50.13 | $39.78 | $82,740 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,070 | 5.66 | 20.83 | $39.29 | $81,720 |
| Newark, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division | 240 | 0.20 | 0.74 | $39.14 | $81,410 |
| Tulsa, OK | 510 | 1.19 | 4.38 | $38.32 | $79,710 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 290 | 0.20 | 0.74 | $38.10 | $79,250 |
| Toledo, OH | 440 | 1.49 | 5.50 | $37.94 | $78,910 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $37.34 | $77,670 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 270 | 0.58 | 2.15 | $37.32 | $77,630 |
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 Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 600 | 3.12 | 11.51 | $35.18 | $73,170 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 4.24 | 15.62 | $32.59 | $67,790 |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 390 | 2.72 | 10.03 | $33.58 | $69,840 |
| Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 380 | 2.25 | 8.29 | $30.10 | $62,610 |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 320 | 5.29 | 19.50 | $33.90 | $70,510 |
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 | 270 | 7.48 | 27.56 | $35.03 | $72,860 |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 320 | 5.29 | 19.50 | $33.90 | $70,510 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 4.24 | 15.62 | $32.59 | $67,790 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 3.32 | 12.22 | $44.30 | $92,140 |
| South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 3.21 | 11.81 | $27.86 | $57,950 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 3.32 | 12.22 | $44.30 | $92,140 |
| Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $37.19 | $77,350 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 2.67 | 9.83 | $35.66 | $74,170 |
| Southwest Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 2.96 | 10.90 | $35.52 | $73,880 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 600 | 3.12 | 11.51 | $35.18 | $73,170 |
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 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018