DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gaging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
Wages Updated to First Quarter, 2020

					Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	Mean SE*	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Northwest Balance of State	N/A	N/A	$30.86/hr	$1.51/hr	$25.55/hr	$27.23/hr	$29.64/hr	$35.24/hr	$38.54/hr
Minnesota	N/A	N/A	$31.46/hr	$0.85/hr	$26.28/hr	$27.91/hr	$30.42/hr	$34.67/hr	$38.92/hr
U S	40,370	1,817	$36.01/hr	$0.40/hr	$23.12/hr	$28.47/hr	$36.19/hr	$43.94/hr	$48.82/hr
*SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate.

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• Starts battery of pumps, observes pressure meters and flowmeters, and turns valves to regulate pumping speeds according to schedules.
• Synchronizes activities with other pumphouses to ensure continuous flow of products and minimum of contamination between products.
• Reads operating schedules or instructions from dispatcher.
• Records operating data, such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating time.
• Signals other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
• Plans movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, utilizing knowledge of interconnections and capacities system.
• Turns handwheels to open line valves and direct flow of product.
• Reads and analyzes specifications, schedules, logs, and test results to determine changes to equipment controls required to produce specified product.
• Operates control panel to coordinate and regulate process variables and to direct product flow rate, according to prescribed schedules.
• Observes instruments, gauges, and meters to verify conformance to specified quality and quantity of product.
• Inspects equipment and listens for automated warning signals to determine location and nature of malfunction, such as leaks and breakage.
• Repairs, lubricates, and maintains equipment or reports malfunctioning equipment to supervisor to schedule needed repairs.
• Compiles and records operating data, instrument readings, documents, and results of laboratory analyses.
• Cleans interior of processing units by circulating chemicals and solvents within unit.
• Samples and tests liquids and gases for chemical characteristics and color of products, or sends products to laboratory for analysis.
• Operates auxiliary equipment and controls multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations.
• Monitors and adjusts unit controls to ensure safe and efficient operating conditions.
• Gauges quality of oil in storage tanks before and after delivery, using calibrated steel tape and conversion.
• Regulates flow of products into pipelines, using automated pumping equipment.
• Reads automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine flow rate of oil into or from tanks and amount of oil in tanks.
• Operates pumps, teletype, and mobile radio.
• Turns bleeder valves or lowers sample container into tank to obtain oil sample.
• Calculates test results, using standard formulas.
• Tightens connections with wrenches and greases and oils valves, using grease gum and oil can.
• Inspects pipelines, valves, and flanges to detect malfunctions, such as loose connections and leaks.
• Clamps seal around valves to secure tanks.
• Reports leaks or defective valves to maintenance.
• Records meter and pressure readings at gas well.
• Lowers thermometer into tanks to obtain temperature reading.
• Records readings and test results.
• Gauges tank containing petroleum and natural gas byproducts, such as condensate or natural gasoline.
• Starts pumps and opens valves to regulate flow of oil into and out of tanks, according to delivery schedules.
• Tests oil to determine amount of bottom sediment, water, and foreign materials, using centrifugal tester.