Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Oklahoma City, OK is $84,750/year ($40.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.41), which stretches that salary to about $93,740 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,244/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in Oklahoma City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Oklahoma City’s Regional Price Parity (90.41). 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 Oklahoma City
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Oklahoma City runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,244/month, 23.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.41 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Oklahoma City can be a reasonable trade-off for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in metros near Oklahoma City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | $107K | $120K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $84K | $85K |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $101K | $112K |
| Corpus Christi | $79K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oklahoma City, OK
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $54K 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 Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 23.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,244/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 Oklahoma City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,432/month. At HUD’s $1,244/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 Oklahoma City?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $85K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Oklahoma City compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Oklahoma City pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Oklahoma City, OK?
The median is $84,750 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,200, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $111,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Oklahoma City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,373/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,244/month, which eats 23.2% 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 Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City has a Regional Price Parity of 90.41 (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 $93,740 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.