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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

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)
33,360 3.3 % $ 42.36 $ 88,120 0.8 %

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

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 27.87 $ 36.60 $ 45.47 $ 49.24 $ 52.99
Annual Wage (2) $ 57,970 $ 76,130 $ 94,580 $ 102,410 $ 110,220


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 17,310 15.98 $ 44.35 $ 92,240
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 4,540 13.85 $ 43.70 $ 90,900
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 2,280 19.20 $ 44.98 $ 93,550
Other Pipeline Transportation 2,190 25.88 $ 42.43 $ 88,260
Oil and Gas Extraction 2,190 2.02 $ 40.09 $ 83,380

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 2,190 25.88 $ 42.43 $ 88,260
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 2,280 19.20 $ 44.98 $ 93,550
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 17,310 15.98 $ 44.35 $ 92,240
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 4,540 13.85 $ 43.70 $ 90,900
Oil and Gas Extraction 2,190 2.02 $ 40.09 $ 83,380

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)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 110 0.03 $ 48.44 $ 100,750
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 2,280 19.20 $ 44.98 $ 93,550
Natural Gas Distribution 130 0.11 $ 44.88 $ 93,350
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 17,310 15.98 $ 44.35 $ 92,240
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 4,540 13.85 $ 43.70 $ 90,900


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 2023


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 11,050 0.81 3.71 $ 42.14 $ 87,660
California 3,680 0.21 0.93 $ 48.65 $ 101,190
Louisiana 3,660 1.98 9.00 $ 43.32 $ 90,110
Oklahoma 1,820 1.09 4.97 $ 42.26 $ 87,900
Ohio 990 0.18 0.82 $ 44.42 $ 92,390


Map of location quotient of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by state, May 2023


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)
Wyoming 710 2.61 11.89 $ 43.34 $ 90,150
Louisiana 3,660 1.98 9.00 $ 43.32 $ 90,110
Oklahoma 1,820 1.09 4.97 $ 42.26 $ 87,900
Alaska 330 1.05 4.76 $ 47.76 $ 99,340
Texas 11,050 0.81 3.71 $ 42.14 $ 87,660


Map of annual mean wages of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by state, May 2023


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 450 0.08 0.34 $ 54.87 $ 114,130
Minnesota 640 0.22 1.01 $ 49.14 $ 102,200
California 3,680 0.21 0.93 $ 48.65 $ 101,190
Alaska 330 1.05 4.76 $ 47.76 $ 99,340
Montana 390 0.77 3.50 $ 47.61 $ 99,030



Map of employment of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by area, May 2023


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 5,930 1.87 8.49 $ 44.53 $ 92,620
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,810 0.29 1.33 $ 48.52 $ 100,920
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 1,520 9.80 44.63 $ 40.73 $ 84,720
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 1,460 2.83 12.90 $ 46.64 $ 97,000
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,110 0.46 2.09 $ 54.36 $ 113,060
Corpus Christi, TX 860 4.62 21.02 $ 39.75 $ 82,670
Baton Rouge, LA 750 1.94 8.81 (8) (8)
Tulsa, OK 710 1.61 7.33 $ 45.32 $ 94,260
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 610 0.22 0.98 $ 47.62 $ 99,040
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 550 0.29 1.31 $ 50.34 $ 104,710


Map of location quotient of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by area, May 2023


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 1,520 9.80 44.63 $ 40.73 $ 84,720
Corpus Christi, TX 860 4.62 21.02 $ 39.75 $ 82,670
Casper, WY 140 3.61 16.43 $ 40.50 $ 84,240
Billings, MT 320 3.54 16.11 $ 49.11 $ 102,150
Midland, TX 410 3.53 16.07 $ 43.41 $ 90,300
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 1,460 2.83 12.90 $ 46.64 $ 97,000
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS 410 2.69 12.26 (8) (8)
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA 410 2.39 10.90 $ 37.95 $ 78,930
Farmington, NM 110 2.36 10.77 $ 35.84 $ 74,560
Baton Rouge, LA 750 1.94 8.81 (8) (8)


Map of annual mean wages of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers by area, May 2023


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 1,110 0.46 2.09 $ 54.36 $ 113,060
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 360 0.08 0.37 $ 50.89 $ 105,840
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 550 0.29 1.31 $ 50.34 $ 104,710
Toledo, OH 340 1.17 5.32 $ 49.40 $ 102,740
Billings, MT 320 3.54 16.11 $ 49.11 $ 102,150
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,810 0.29 1.33 $ 48.52 $ 100,920
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 610 0.22 0.98 $ 47.62 $ 99,040
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 30 0.02 0.11 $ 47.25 $ 98,270
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 70 0.03 0.13 $ 46.71 $ 97,160
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 1,460 2.83 12.90 $ 46.64 $ 97,000

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)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 570 1.47 6.70 $ 43.91 $ 91,330
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 570 2.88 13.13 $ 37.92 $ 78,870
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 390 2.27 10.33 $ 42.11 $ 87,590
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 320 3.86 17.56 $ 46.88 $ 97,510
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 280 2.43 11.05 $ 47.46 $ 98,720

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 320 3.86 17.56 $ 46.88 $ 97,510
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 570 2.88 13.13 $ 37.92 $ 78,870
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 280 2.43 11.05 $ 47.46 $ 98,720
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 220 2.29 10.43 $ 41.01 $ 85,300
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 390 2.27 10.33 $ 42.11 $ 87,590

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 200 1.92 8.72 $ 51.15 $ 106,390
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 280 2.43 11.05 $ 47.46 $ 98,720
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 320 3.86 17.56 $ 46.88 $ 97,510
Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 50 0.25 1.12 $ 44.11 $ 91,750
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 570 1.47 6.70 $ 43.91 $ 91,330


About May 2023 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.

(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 OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024