Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Texas is $84,100/year ($40.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $91,923 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Texas?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Texas runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $97K. Rent runs $1,415/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by metro in Texas
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $101K | +20% | 1,480 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $84K | +0% | 5,510 |
| Midland | $81K | -4% | 310 |
| Corpus Christi | $79K | -7% | 820 |
| Lubbock | $77K | -8% | 60 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $68K | -19% | 400 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas 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 Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,740/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $84K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Texas pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Texas?
The median is $84,100 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,670, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $108,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,629/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 25.1% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $91,923 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.