Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Lubbock, TX is $77,240/year ($37.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.32), which stretches that salary to about $84,582 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $973/month, or 18.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $77K get you in Lubbock?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lubbock’s Regional Price Parity (91.32). 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 Lubbock
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Lubbock runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $973/month, 18.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.32 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Lubbock can be a reasonable trade-off for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in metros near Lubbock, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $84K | $85K |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $101K | $112K |
| Corpus Christi | $79K | $85K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $68K | $66K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lubbock, TX
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $96K 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lubbock?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 18.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $973/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 Lubbock?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,059/month. At HUD’s $973/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Lubbock?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $77K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lubbock compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Lubbock pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Lubbock, TX?
The median is $77,240 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,980, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $95,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Lubbock?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,227/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $973/month, which eats 18.6% 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 Lubbock?
Lubbock has a Regional Price Parity of 91.32 (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 $84,582 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.