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Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

51-8093 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.

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Minnesota 5809$51.20/hr$36.19/hr$46.77/hr$52.38/hr$61.63/hr$62.90/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and MiningN/AN/A
ManufacturingN/AN/A
Trade, Transportation and Utilities120$47.19/hr
Public Administration20$31.39/hr
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change -10-
Southwest Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA N/AN/AN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Rochester MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
St Cloud MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Central Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Southeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Balance of State 30$39.63/hrN/A
Northwest Minnesota 40$39.62/hrN/A
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 500$52.38/hrN/A
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 500$52.38/hrN/A
Minnesota 580$52.38/hrN/A


Occupations Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2020-2030
Gas Plant Operators 190$45.95/hr-5.2%
Chemical Plant and System Operators 260$30.90/hr3.7%
Power Plant Operators 560$50.79/hr-17.8%
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 1,810$24.23/hr-1.0%


  • Conduct general housekeeping of units, including wiping up oil spills and performing general cleaning duties.
  • 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.
  • Prepare calculations for receipts and deliveries of oil and oil products.
  • Inspect pipelines, tightening connections and lubricating valves as necessary.
  • 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.
  • Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
  • Perform tests to check the qualities and grades of products, such as assessing levels of bottom sediment, water, and foreign materials in oil samples, using centrifugal testers.