Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $96,730/year ($46.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $104,936 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $97K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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 Memphis
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers pay in Memphis tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,274/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $99K | $107K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $97K | $104K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $46K 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 with published data
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 Memphis 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 Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/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 Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,446/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger a high-paying job in Memphis?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Memphis pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $96,730 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,100, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $119,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,370/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 20% 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 Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (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 $104,936 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.