Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Virginia is $58,970/year ($28.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $62,211 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 42.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in Virginia?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Virginia runs about 39% below the U.S. median of $97K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 42.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $63K 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 Virginia 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 Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 42.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,418/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Virginia?
Local pay runs 39% below the national median — $59K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Virginia pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Virginia?
The median is $58,970 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,300, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $103,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,879/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 42.4% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $62,211 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.