Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in North Carolina is $80,060/year ($38.49/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $86,402 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $80K get you in North Carolina?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in North Carolina runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $97K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $39K 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 25.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,615/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $80K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
North Carolina pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in North Carolina?
The median is $80,060 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,250, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $98,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,092/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 25.2% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $86,402 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.