Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
What Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Do
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.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not available
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Production and Processingimportance 3.6/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.6/5
- Mechanicalimportance 3.5/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 3.5/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.2/5
- English Languageimportance 3.2/5
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.0/5
- Chemistryimportance 3.0/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions4.8/5
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions4.8/5
- Exposed to Contaminants4.7/5
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures4.7/5
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.5/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Chemical Plant and System Operators98% skill match
- Gas Plant Operators97% skill match
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers95% skill match
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders95% skill match
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders95% skill match
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers94% skill match
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders94% skill match
- Nuclear Technicians94% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Operations Monitoringimportance 4.0/5
- Operation and Controlimportance 3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.0/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.9/5
- Coordinationimportance 2.9/5
- Equipment Maintenanceimportance 2.9/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Stress Tolerance
- Perseverance
- Self-Control
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalHigh
- InvestigativeLow
- EnterprisingLow
- SocialLow
- ArtisticLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX42.53× national avg
- 2Corpus Christi, TX19.85× national avg
- 3Bellingham, WA19.69× national avg
- 4Billings, MT19.15× national avg
- 5New Orleans-Metairie, LA16.46× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Chemical Plant and System OperatorsLateral Move
- Gas Plant OperatorsLateral Move
- Power Plant OperatorsLateral Move
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersCareer Change
See the full career path from Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers →