Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 51-8093 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$96,720
$46.50/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers is $96,720 per year ($46.50/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $77,522 and $106,330 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $115,877 per year. There are approximately 33,160 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-2.8%
Slower than average
Annual openings
3K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
35K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
NAICS 324100
19K
$103,160
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only)
NAICS 4240A3
3K
$50,510
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
NAICS 486200
3K
$95,560
Other Pipeline Transportation
NAICS 486900
2K
$95,760
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
NAICS 486100
1K
$91,410
Wage range across top 5 industries: $50,510 to $103,160 (104% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$27.46
$57,117
P25
$37.27
$77,522
P50MEDIAN
$46.50
$96,720
P75
$51.12
$106,330
P90
$55.71
$115,877
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%
Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary?
The national median salary for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers is $96,720 per year ($46.50/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $77,522 and $106,330 annually.
How much do top-earning petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make?
The 90th percentile salary for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers is $115,877 per year ($55.71/hr). The 75th percentile is $106,330 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Entry-level Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (10th percentile) earn approximately $57,117 per year ($27.46/hr). The 25th percentile is $77,522 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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