Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Alabama is $73,510/year ($35.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $83,194 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alabama. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $74K get you in Alabama?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Alabama runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 23% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Alabama can be a reasonable trade-off for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 23% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,637/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $74K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Alabama pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Alabama?
The median is $73,510 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,950, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $93,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,716/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 23% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary is worth about $83,194 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.