What Do Petroleum Pump System Operator Do?
Job Description & Duties Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.
Petroleum Pump System Operator Responsibilities
- Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Read automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- Conduct general housekeeping of units, including wiping up oil spills and performing general cleaning duties.
- Record and compile operating data, instrument readings, documentation, and results of laboratory analyses.
- Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Clamp seals around valves to secure tanks.
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Skills Needed to be a Petroleum Pump System Operator
When polled, Petroleum Pump System Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Types of Petroleum Pump System Operator Jobs
- Pump House Technician
- Pipeline Dispatcher
- Refinery Operator
- Operations Boardman
- Plant Operator
Petroleum Pump System Operator Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 41,800 jobs in the United States for Petroleum Pump System Operator. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,200 new jobs for Petroleum Pump System Operator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Petroleum Pump System Operator are Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Missouri, California, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Petroleum Pump System Operator Salary
Petroleum Pump System Operators make between $44,000 and $98,480 a year.

Petroleum Pump System Operators who work in California, Illinois, or South Carolina, make the highest salaries.
How much do Petroleum Pump System Operators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $52,630 |
Alaska | $78,810 |
Arizona | $54,690 |
Arkansas | $58,680 |
California | $81,310 |
Colorado | $77,390 |
Connecticut | $57,140 |
Florida | $50,840 |
Georgia | $60,220 |
Illinois | $79,260 |
Indiana | $56,420 |
Iowa | $67,420 |
Kansas | $63,480 |
Kentucky | $65,570 |
Louisiana | $71,930 |
Maryland | $48,890 |
Massachusetts | $56,340 |
Michigan | $59,700 |
Minnesota | $61,720 |
Missouri | $47,820 |
Montana | $80,340 |
Nebraska | $68,650 |
New Hampshire | $63,840 |
New Mexico | $69,090 |
New York | $53,470 |
North Carolina | $58,420 |
North Dakota | $70,900 |
Ohio | $69,250 |
Oklahoma | $71,020 |
Oregon | $73,580 |
Pennsylvania | $59,430 |
South Carolina | $73,460 |
South Dakota | $54,280 |
Tennessee | $48,820 |
Texas | $72,610 |
Utah | $65,300 |
Virginia | $50,630 |
Washington | $60,990 |
West Virginia | $68,440 |
Wisconsin | $62,390 |
Wyoming | $74,270 |
What Tools do Petroleum Pump System Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Petroleum Pump System Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Email software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Inventory tracking software
Becoming a Petroleum Pump System Operator
What kind of Petroleum Pump System Operator requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Petroleum Pump System Operator?

Petroleum Pump System Operators Sector

Below are examples of industries where Petroleum Pump System Operators work:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as a Petroleum Pump System Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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