Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median of $86,860 a year ($41.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,820 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $96,710. Pay here is 3% higher than the Michigan statewide median of $84,030. There are 0.04 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.20). The average (mean) salary is $88,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,790 | $32.59 |
| 25th percentile | $78,770 | $37.87 |
| Median | $86,860 | $41.76 |
| 75th percentile | $99,540 | $47.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,820 | $48.95 |
| Average (mean) | $88,930 | $42.75 |
Half of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,238.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,619.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,340.77 |
| Weekly | $1,670.38 |
| Hourly | $41.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $86,860 salary, see how much house you can afford in Michigan at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $124,530 |
| Louisiana | $106,640 |
| Utah | $105,980 |
| Ohio | $105,150 |
| New Jersey | $104,540 |
| Washington | $103,620 |
| California | $103,250 |
| Illinois | $102,890 |
| Minnesota | $101,910 |
| Kansas | $101,880 |
See Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay in every state or the Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $61,760 | $29.69 |
| Power Plant Operator | $108,050 | $51.95 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $108,650 | $52.24 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $124,140 | $59.68 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $87,700 | $42.17 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $49,240 | $23.67 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,460 | $24.26 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,400 | $21.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| Machinist | $59,310 | $28.51 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,790 | $19.13 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $73,120 | $35.15 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,810 | $24.91 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The median salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $86,860 a year, or $41.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The top 10% of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn at least $101,820 a year. The top 25% earn $99,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,790 a year, and a quarter of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn $78,770 or less.
How many petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers work in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
About 80 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers are employed in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.