Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in West Virginia is $83,910/year ($40.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $94,249 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 19% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in West Virginia?
About petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in West Virginia runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 18.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by metro in West Virginia
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | $81K | -3% | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $79K | -6% | 420 |
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 West 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 West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 18.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/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 West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,346/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $84K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
West Virginia pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in West Virginia?
The median is $83,910 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,430, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $97,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,334/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 18.9% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $94,249 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.