Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Colorado is $93,750/year ($45.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $90,396 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $94K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Colorado
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $94K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,832/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by metro in Colorado
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $102K | +8% | 50 |
| Greeley | $94K | +0% | 40 |
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Track petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado 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 Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 31.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,133/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $94K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Colorado pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Colorado?
The median is $93,750 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,620, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $104,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,851/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 31.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $90,396 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.