Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Agriculture, Food and Natural ResourcesO*NET 51-8093.00United States
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 annual earnings
- $96,677
- Projected change
- +0.3%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 35.17K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
97% of the workforce
Growing to 35.26K by 2035
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The work
What petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
- Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled.
- 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.
- Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly.
- Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of system interconnections and capacities.
- Patrol units to monitor the amount of oil in storage tanks, and to verify that activities and operations are safe, efficient, and in compliance with regulations.
- Control or operate manifold and pumping systems to circulate liquids through a petroleum refinery.
- Operate auxiliary equipment and control multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations, moving controls that regulate valves, pumps, compressors, and auxiliary equipment.
- Collect product samples by turning bleeder valves, or by lowering containers into tanks to obtain oil samples.
- Read automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- Record and compile operating data, instrument readings, documentation, and results of laboratory analyses.
- Synchronize activities with other pumphouses to ensure a continuous flow of products and a minimum of contamination between products.
- Conduct general housekeeping of units, including wiping up oil spills and performing general cleaning duties.
- Inspect pipelines, tightening connections and lubricating valves as necessary.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $57,074
- 25th percentile
- $77,474
- 50th percentile
- $96,677
- 75th percentile
- $106,340
- 90th percentile
- $116,114
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $96,677 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+0.3%average or slower
202535,173 jobs
2035 projected35,263 jobs
90 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 97%
- Certificate
- 1.7%
- Some college
- 1.3%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Lease Operators/Pumpers19 postings
- 02Solids Control Technicians17 postings
- 03Control Room Operators10 postings
- 04Pumpers9 postings
- 05Petroleum Supply Specialists5 postings
- 06Factory Controllers1 postings
- 07Oil and Gas Sales Directors1 postings
- 08Quality Control Technicians1 postings
Top employers
- 01Kay And Associates5 postings
- 02Oilcorp Srl5 postings
- 03Pioneer Production Services4 postings
- 04Workrise4 postings
- 05Murex Petroleum Corporation2 postings
- 06Oxy Agency2 postings
- 07Atlas Operating1 postings
- 08BP1 postings
- 09Behr Process Corporation1 postings
- 10BlackRock1 postings
- 11Butler Field Services LLC1 postings
- 12Capex Oilfield Services1 postings
- 13Clean Harbors1 postings
- 14Complete Solids Control1 postings
- 15Dfg Energy Company1 postings
- 16Dynamic Energy Services1 postings
- 17Fieldbridge1 postings
- 18Franklin Gas And Oil1 postings
- 19Freedom Drilling Services1 postings
- 20Gaither Petroleum1 postings
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