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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$96,710

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$57k – $116k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

    Entry / Junior

    $57,110

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

    Established

    $96,710

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

    Senior

    $106,295

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
  • •Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled.
  • •Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
  • •Start pumps and open valves or use automated equipment to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and into and out of tanks.
  • •Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.