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Boston Career Explorer

Production

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

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.

Also called: Board Operator, Crude Unit Operator, Gauger, Hydrotreater Operator, Operator, Outside Operator

Median pay in Greater Boston
$79,260
$38.11/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
30
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$67,760$74,950$79,260$91,150$102,530

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
  • Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled.
  • Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
  • Start pumps and open valves or use automated equipment to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and into and out of tanks.
  • Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
  • Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure33 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 37
  • Language-model AIOE 29
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 34

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is lower, and observed AI use is some. AI tools may help with watching gauges and meters, spotting problems, and adjusting control-panel settings to a schedule. Starting pumps, opening valves, repairing equipment, and coordinating with coworkers by radio or phone are hands-on work that AI tools do not do.

Likely to change

  • Monitoring gauges, meters, and process indicators
  • Adjusting control-panel settings to schedules

Still relies on people

  • Starting pumps and opening valves by hand
  • Repairing equipment and coordinating with coworkers

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

    Your work with valves and equipment problems carries over to repairing control devices and logging repairs. Boston median pay is $95,520, with 4.8% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$16,260 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.8%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

    You already know pumps, valves, and flowing liquids. Pipefitting builds on that through an apprenticeship, with $96,760 median pay and 6.5% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$17,500 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.5%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electricians

    Reading control panels and following process schedules helps with electrical blueprints and codes. This apprenticeship path offers $79,910 median pay and 11.6% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$650 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +11.6%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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