Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Maine is $65,150/year ($31.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $66,684 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maine. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $65K get you in Maine?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Maine
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Maine runs about 33% below the U.S. median of $97K. Rent runs $1,281/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
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 Maine 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 Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 30.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/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 Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,608/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Maine?
Local pay runs 33% below the national median — $65K here vs. $97K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Maine pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Maine?
The median is $65,150 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,470, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $92,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,253/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 30.1% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $66,684 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.