Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Anchorage, AK is $92,930/year ($44.68/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $88,152 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,376/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $93K actually covers in Anchorage, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Anchorage’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Anchorage
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers pay in Anchorage tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,376/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Anchorage, AK
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $125K | +29% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $107K | +10% | 3,490 |
| Utah | $106K | +10% | 600 |
| Ohio | $105K | +9% | 800 |
| New Jersey | $105K | +8% | 420 |
| Washington | $104K | +7% | 930 |
| California | $103K | +7% | 3,360 |
| Illinois | $103K | +6% | 1,070 |
| Minnesota | $102K | +5% | 550 |
| Kansas | $102K | +5% | 950 |
| Wyoming | $100K | +4% | 560 |
| Montana | $98K | +2% | 550 |
| Tennessee | $97K | +0% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $95K | -2% | 1,390 |
| Hawaii | $95K | -2% | 280 |
| Colorado | $94K | -3% | 120 |
| North Dakota | $93K | -4% | 950 |
| Iowa | $90K | -7% | 70 |
| New York | $89K | -8% | 70 |
| Arkansas | $87K | -10% | 220 |
| Texas | $84K | -13% | 10,510 |
| Michigan | $84K | -13% | 180 |
| West Virginia | $84K | -13% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $84K | -13% | 820 |
| Missouri | $81K | -16% | 100 |
| North Carolina | $80K | -17% | 130 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -19% | 520 |
| Maryland | $79K | -19% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $75K | -22% | 860 |
| New Mexico | $74K | -23% | 420 |
| Alabama | $74K | -24% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $71K | -26% | N/A |
| New Hampshire | $70K | -28% | 120 |
| Indiana | $67K | -30% | 520 |
| Maine | $65K | -33% | 60 |
| Florida | $63K | -34% | 170 |
| Nevada | $62K | -35% | 30 |
| Arizona | $60K | -38% | 180 |
| Virginia | $59K | -39% | 250 |
| South Carolina | $58K | -40% | 70 |
| Georgia | $57K | -41% | 240 |
| Connecticut | $57K | -41% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Anchorage numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Anchorage?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,376/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 Anchorage?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,483/month. At HUD’s $1,376/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Anchorage?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Anchorage compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Anchorage pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Anchorage, AK?
The median is $92,930 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,710, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $114,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Anchorage?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,147/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,376/month, which eats 22.4% 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 Anchorage?
Anchorage has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (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 $88,152 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.