Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Wheeling, WV-OH is $81,090/year ($38.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.32), which stretches that salary to about $91,814 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $991/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $81K get you in Wheeling?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wheeling’s Regional Price Parity (88.32). 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 Wheeling
Pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Wheeling runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $991/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.32 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Wheeling 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 Wheeling, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $79K | $89K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $106K | $103K |
| Toledo | $108K | $118K |
| Pittsburgh | $72K | $76K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wheeling, WV-OH
Entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $10K 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
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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wheeling?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $991/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 Wheeling?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,865/month. At HUD’s $991/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gauger a high-paying job in Wheeling?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $81K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wheeling compare to the national average for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?
Wheeling pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median is $81,090 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,090, and experienced petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers can clear $91,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Wheeling?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,181/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $991/month, which eats 19.1% 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 Wheeling?
Wheeling has a Regional Price Parity of 88.32 (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 $91,814 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.