Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers earn a median $96,710 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$96,710
$46.50 per hour
Range
$57,110 – $115,880
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
33,160
across the U.S.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$76,865
per year · effective tax rate 20.5%
$6,405Monthly
$3,203Twice a month
$2,956Every 2 weeks
$36.95Hourly
- Federal income tax$12,446
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,996
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,402
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$76,865
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,110 | $27.46 | $48,068 |
| 25th percentile | $77,510 | $37.26 | $63,358 |
| Median (50th) | $96,710 | $46.50 | $76,865 |
| 75th percentile | $106,320 | $51.12 | $83,626 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,880 | $55.71 | $90,352 |
Best cities for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $108,420 | $82,237 | $90,589 | 660 |
| 2 | Tulsa, OK | $107,170 | $79,947 | $89,613 | 570 |
| 3 | Beaumont, TX | $100,660 | $79,644 | $88,448 | 1,480 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $107,490 | $81,611 | $88,135 | 1,560 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $111,370 | $81,811 | $78,972 | 620 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $105,580 | $79,864 | $77,875 | 590 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $117,660 | $83,361 | $72,104 | 870 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $101,910 | $75,117 | $71,662 | 450 |
| 9 | Corpus Christi, TX | $78,630 | $64,146 | $69,219 | 820 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $84,100 | $67,994 | $68,940 | 5,510 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $103,250 | $74,751 | $65,822 | 1,700 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $117,660
- Chicago, IL — $111,370
- Baton Rouge, LA — $108,420
- New Orleans, LA — $107,490
- Tulsa, OK — $107,170
- Philadelphia, PA — $105,580
- Los Angeles, CA — $103,250
- Minneapolis, MN — $101,910
- Beaumont, TX — $100,660
- Houston, TX — $84,100
- Corpus Christi, TX — $78,630
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $124,530 | $96,382 | $83,680 – $167,880 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $106,640 | $81,038 | $42,160 – $111,060 | 3,490 |
| Utah | $105,980 | $79,584 | $65,140 – $109,390 | 600 |
| Ohio | $105,150 | $80,694 | $73,840 – $107,530 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $104,540 | $77,905 | $79,930 – $122,800 | 420 |
| Washington | $103,620 | $81,727 | $76,950 – $114,980 | 930 |
| California | $103,250 | $74,751 | $72,930 – $128,840 | 3,360 |
| Illinois | $102,890 | $76,265 | $93,690 – $111,380 | 1,070 |
| Minnesota | $101,910 | $75,117 | $70,770 – $128,670 | 550 |
| Kansas | $101,880 | $75,617 | $79,250 – $109,260 | 950 |
| Wyoming | $100,350 | $79,426 | $69,320 – $114,040 | 560 |
| Montana | $98,310 | $73,797 | $75,760 – $108,160 | 550 |
| Tennessee | $96,730 | $76,880 | $65,380 – $105,050 | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $95,140 | $72,025 | $74,420 – $107,170 | 1,390 |
| Hawaii | $94,900 | $69,910 | $71,240 – $130,310 | 280 |
| Colorado | $93,750 | $71,367 | $62,620 – $104,590 | 120 |
| North Dakota | $93,130 | $73,790 | $66,580 – $118,280 | 950 |
| Iowa | $90,160 | $69,483 | $61,400 – $99,760 | 70 |
| New York | $88,880 | $67,153 | $60,850 – $105,080 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $86,580 | $66,575 | $56,580 – $96,770 | 220 |
| Texas | $84,100 | $67,994 | $45,670 – $108,650 | 10,510 |
| Michigan | $84,030 | $64,625 | $57,450 – $101,820 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $83,910 | $64,751 | $72,430 – $97,400 | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,870 | $65,258 | $61,670 – $105,580 | 820 |
| Missouri | $80,960 | $62,918 | $59,860 – $118,760 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $80,060 | $62,467 | $60,250 – $98,940 | 130 |
| Kentucky | $78,670 | $61,538 | $50,540 – $106,810 | 520 |
| Maryland | $78,580 | $60,742 | $48,280 – $101,800 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $75,180 | $59,444 | $66,190 – $98,100 | 860 |
| New Mexico | $74,340 | $58,800 | $48,380 – $104,790 | 420 |
| Alabama | $73,510 | $57,134 | $43,950 – $93,240 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $71,450 | $56,689 | $64,560 – $103,060 | — |
| New Hampshire | $70,050 | $58,110 | $56,800 – $82,930 | 120 |
| Indiana | $67,420 | $54,301 | $44,260 – $104,020 | 520 |
| Maine | $65,150 | $51,312 | $43,470 – $92,810 | 60 |
| Florida | $63,480 | $53,186 | $49,920 – $97,000 | 170 |
| Nevada | $62,420 | $52,334 | $50,110 – $78,560 | 30 |
| Arizona | $60,070 | $49,153 | $38,520 – $106,360 | 180 |
| Virginia | $58,970 | $46,986 | $40,300 – $103,390 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $58,160 | $46,579 | $24,880 – $96,140 | 70 |
| Georgia | $57,180 | $45,779 | $42,720 – $98,120 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $56,880 | $46,248 | $46,070 – $100,340 | — |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make?
The national median salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers is $96,710 a year ($46.50 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $57,110 and the top 10% earn over $115,880. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers the most?
Alaska has the highest median pay at $124,530. After taxes and local prices, Baton Rouge, LA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers are there in the U.S.?
About 33,160 people work as petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers nationwide.