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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

51-8093 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

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.


National estimates for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Industry profile for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Geographic profile for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

National estimates for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
34,230 2.7 % $ 38.70 $ 80,500 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 24.66 $ 30.94 $ 38.24 $ 47.13 $ 48.94
Annual Wage (2) $ 51,290 $ 64,350 $ 79,540 $ 98,030 $ 101,780


Industry profile for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 15,530 15.04 $ 41.32 $ 85,950
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 3,480 11.51 $ 36.18 $ 75,250
Oil and Gas Extraction 3,010 2.82 $ 38.14 $ 79,340
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 2,720 23.75 $ 40.82 $ 84,900
Other Pipeline Transportation 2,670 32.22 $ 39.91 $ 83,020

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Pipeline Transportation 2,670 32.22 $ 39.91 $ 83,020
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 2,720 23.75 $ 40.82 $ 84,900
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 15,530 15.04 $ 41.32 $ 85,950
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 3,480 11.51 $ 36.18 $ 75,250
Oil and Gas Extraction 3,010 2.82 $ 38.14 $ 79,340

Top paying industries for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Management of Companies and Enterprises 940 0.04 $ 45.81 $ 95,290
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 15,530 15.04 $ 41.32 $ 85,950
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 2,720 23.75 $ 40.82 $ 84,900
Other Pipeline Transportation 2,670 32.22 $ 39.91 $ 83,020
Oil and Gas Extraction 3,010 2.82 $ 38.14 $ 79,340


Geographic profile for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 10,600 0.87 3.57 $ 37.57 $ 78,150
Louisiana 4,810 2.68 11.05 $ 36.31 $ 75,520
California 3,160 0.19 0.79 $ 44.18 $ 91,900
Oklahoma 1,990 1.28 5.26 $ 36.94 $ 76,840
Pennsylvania 1,030 0.18 0.76 $ 36.42 $ 75,750


Map of location quotient of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Louisiana 4,810 2.68 11.05 $ 36.31 $ 75,520
Wyoming 670 2.57 10.60 $ 38.58 $ 80,240
Alaska 380 1.30 5.35 $ 45.41 $ 94,460
Oklahoma 1,990 1.28 5.26 $ 36.94 $ 76,840
North Dakota 490 1.24 5.08 $ 42.32 $ 88,020


Map of annual mean wages of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Illinois 750 0.13 0.55 $ 45.89 $ 95,450
Alaska 380 1.30 5.35 $ 45.41 $ 94,460
Washington 550 0.17 0.70 $ 45.40 $ 94,440
California 3,160 0.19 0.79 $ 44.18 $ 91,900
Mississippi 940 0.85 3.50 $ 43.88 $ 91,260



Map of employment of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5,010 1.73 7.12 $ 39.08 $ 81,290
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 1,890 3.74 15.40 $ 33.60 $ 69,890
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,460 0.26 1.05 $ 44.62 $ 92,810
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 1,150 7.85 32.32 $ 37.72 $ 78,470
Baton Rouge, LA 990 2.68 11.04 $ 41.22 $ 85,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 930 0.41 1.70 $ 50.52 $ 105,090
Corpus Christi, TX 800 4.55 18.73 $ 36.79 $ 76,510
Tulsa, OK 580 1.38 5.67 $ 40.19 $ 83,590
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 570 0.21 0.88 $ 44.17 $ 91,860
Midland, TX 540 5.72 23.53 $ 37.89 $ 78,800


Map of location quotient of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 1,150 7.85 32.32 $ 37.72 $ 78,470
Midland, TX 540 5.72 23.53 $ 37.89 $ 78,800
Corpus Christi, TX 800 4.55 18.73 $ 36.79 $ 76,510
Billings, MT 360 4.25 17.49 $ 44.76 $ 93,100
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 1,890 3.74 15.40 $ 33.60 $ 69,890
Odessa, TX 190 2.78 11.43 $ 35.09 $ 72,990
Baton Rouge, LA 990 2.68 11.04 $ 41.22 $ 85,740
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 150 1.93 7.96 $ 33.74 $ 70,180
Casper, WY 70 1.80 7.42 $ 40.16 $ 83,530
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA 280 1.73 7.12 $ 36.16 $ 75,210


Map of annual mean wages of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 930 0.41 1.70 $ 50.52 $ 105,090
St. Louis, MO-IL 200 0.15 0.63 $ 47.05 $ 97,860
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA 150 1.14 4.68 $ 46.40 $ 96,520
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 280 1.04 4.26 $ 45.28 $ 94,190
Salt Lake City, UT 90 0.12 0.51 $ 45.13 $ 93,870
Billings, MT 360 4.25 17.49 $ 44.76 $ 93,100
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,460 0.26 1.05 $ 44.62 $ 92,810
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 380 0.26 1.07 $ 44.33 $ 92,210
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 570 0.21 0.88 $ 44.17 $ 91,860
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 370 0.04 0.18 $ 43.96 $ 91,430

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

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 610 3.31 13.61 $ 35.48 $ 73,810
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 540 1.43 5.90 $ 41.81 $ 86,960
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 430 2.62 10.80 $ 36.56 $ 76,040
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 340 3.23 13.29 $ 41.72 $ 86,790
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 300 3.78 15.55 $ 37.36 $ 77,710

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 300 3.78 15.55 $ 37.36 $ 77,710
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 610 3.31 13.61 $ 35.48 $ 73,810
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 340 3.23 13.29 $ 41.72 $ 86,790
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 270 2.90 11.96 $ 36.43 $ 75,770
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 260 2.78 11.46 $ 39.23 $ 81,600

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 180 1.87 7.70 $ 48.99 $ 101,900
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 540 1.43 5.90 $ 41.81 $ 86,960
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 340 3.23 13.29 $ 41.72 $ 86,790
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 250 1.71 7.02 $ 41.57 $ 86,470
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 30 0.27 1.10 $ 41.55 $ 86,430


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

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.

(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 OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022