Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $101,600/year ($48.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers.
So what does $102K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $45K 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
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 32.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,570/month.
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +5%.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $101,600 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,500, 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 $102K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,283/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 32.5% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary is worth about $101,600 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.