Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Alaska is $124,530/year ($59.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $119,385 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,643/month, or 20.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $125K get you in Alaska?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,643/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Alaska offers a genuinely strong financial position for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $125K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by metro in Alaska
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $93K | -25% | 50 |
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 Alaska 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 Alaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $125K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/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 Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,021/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Alaska?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $125K here vs. $97K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Alaska pays $125K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Alaska?
The median is $124,530 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,680, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $167,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $125K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,989/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 20.6% 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 Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary is worth about $119,385 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.