SOC 51-8093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers — Montana
Montana · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in Montana is $98,310 per year, close to the national median of $96,710 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in Montana is $98,310 per year, close to the national median of $96,710 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $75,760 at the tenth percentile to more than $108,160 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $78,900 to $103,200.
Employment stands at 550, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 42 states with published data for this occupation, Montana ranks 12th by median wage. Billings leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $103,110. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 67th of 604 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $75,760 | −21.7% |
| 25th | $78,900 | −18.4% |
| Median (50th) | $98,310 | +1.7% |
| 75th | $103,200 | +6.7% |
| 90th | $108,160 | +11.8% |
| Mean | $94,310 | −2.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Montana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billings | $103,110 | 380 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Montana run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $98,310 goes as far as $103,922 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$98,310as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$103,922US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $98,310 a year, 1.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $75,760 to $108,160 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 550 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 42 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Billings, at $103,110.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in Montana?
The median annual wage is $98,310, or $47.26 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $96,710, so pay in Montana is 1.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Montana earns more than $108,160 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $75,760 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Billings, at $103,110 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 550 jobs in this occupation in Montana. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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