Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in South Carolina is $58,160/year ($27.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $62,424 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 33% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $58K get you in South Carolina?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in South Carolina runs about 40% below the U.S. median of $97K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (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, South Carolina
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $71K 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 South 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 South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 32.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,493/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 85% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 40% below the national median — $58K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
South Carolina pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in South Carolina?
The median is $58,160 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,880, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $96,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,890/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 32.5% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $62,424 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.