Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Maryland is $78,580/year ($37.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $79,567 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 35% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Maryland?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Maryland
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Maryland runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $97K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,795/month, which is 35.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) 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, Maryland
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by metro in Maryland
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $86K | +10% | 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 Maryland 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 Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 35.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,897/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Maryland?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $79K here vs. $97K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Maryland pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Maryland?
The median is $78,580 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,280, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $101,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,009/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 35.8% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $79,567 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.