Careers > Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

$85.09K Median Salary 4.4K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 5.4% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

Board Operator, Crude Unit Operator, Gauger, Hydrotreater Operator, Operator, Outside Operator, Pumper, Refinery Operator, Stillman, Unit Operator

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Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Flexibility of Closure

Information Ordering

Near Vision

Perceptual Speed

Problem Sensitivity

Selective Attention

Auditory Attention

Hearing Sensitivity

Deductive Reasoning

Speech Recognition

Category Flexibility

Control Precision

Inductive Reasoning

Oral Comprehension

Oral Expression

Written Comprehension

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Far Vision

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Multilimb Coordination

Reaction Time

Speech Clarity

Visual Color Discrimination

Visualization

Written Expression

Knowledge

Production and Processing

Public Safety and Security

Mechanical

Administration and Management

Mathematics

English Language

Computers and Electronics

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Operation and Control

Monitoring

Reading Comprehension

Complex Problem Solving

Speaking

Active Learning

Active Listening

Critical Thinking

Judgment and Decision Making

Time Management

Writing

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Electronic mail software

Industrial control software

Inventory management software

Word processing software

Tools

Centrifuges

Sampling pumps

Pressure gauge

Wellhead flow lines

Cold chisels

Wire cutters

Load binders

Calipers

Wellhead beam pumps

Pry bars

Hammers

Oil samplers

Screwdrivers

Tape measures

Notebook computers

Slip or groove joint pliers

Handheld thermometer

Allen wrench

Rulers

Sockets

Goggles

Hydrometers

Precision file

Punches or nail sets or drifts

Oil can

Oil tank truck

Vacuum truck

Adjustable wrenches

Wire brushes

Feeler gauges

Pipe wrenches

Tinners snips

Combination pliers

Hacksaw

Compressor control panels

Pocket knives

Needlenose pliers

Personal computers

Abilities

Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Knowledge

Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional
Inventory management software: Assisi Software Assisi Inventory
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word