Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Mississippi is $75,180/year ($36.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $84,567 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,077/month, or 21.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Mississippi. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $75K get you in Mississippi?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Mississippi
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Mississippi runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,077/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Mississippi can be a reasonable trade-off for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Mississippi
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $32K 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 Mississippi numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/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 Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,971/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger a high-paying job in Mississippi?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $75K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Mississippi pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Mississippi?
The median is $75,180 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,190, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $98,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,812/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 22.4% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $84,567 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.