Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Florida is $63,480/year ($30.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $64,394 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 37.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Florida?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Florida runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $97K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 37.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by metro in Florida
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $72K | +14% | 40 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $66K | +5% | 40 |
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 Florida 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 Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 37.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,995/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $63K here vs. $97K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Florida pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Florida?
The median is $63,480 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,920, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $97,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,420/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 37.5% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $64,394 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.