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Jobs Similar to Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Also called: Petroleum Refinery Operators and Gaugers

The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Biomass Plant Technicians, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders and Pump Operators.

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: $96,710 median pay · usual preparation: High school.

Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers

The 20 most similar careers

  1. 1Biomass Plant Technicians

    84% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school · Same group

  2. 2Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

    84% similar · $46,460 (−52%) · High school

  3. 3Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

    83% similar · $61,770 (−36%) · High school

  4. 4Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators

    83% similar · $77,320 (−20%) · High school

  5. 5Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

    83% similar · $58,040 (−40%) · High school

  6. 6Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

    83% similar · $54,430 (−44%) · High school

  7. 7Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    82% similar · $48,540 (−50%) · High school

  8. 8Power Plant Operators

    82% similar · $102,040 (+6%) · High school · Same group

  9. 9Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

    82% similar · $46,350 (−52%) · High school

  10. 10Gas Plant Operators

    82% similar · $87,820 (−9%) · High school · Same group

  11. 11Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    82% similar · $48,750 (−50%) · High school

  12. 12Wellhead Pumpers

    81% similar · $69,960 (−28%) · High school

  13. 13Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

    81% similar · $58,870 (−39%) · High school

  14. 14Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

    81% similar · $48,040 (−50%) · High school

  15. 15Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders

    81% similar · $41,330 (−57%) · High school

  16. 16Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders

    81% similar · $38,180 (−61%) · High school

  17. 17Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    81% similar · $46,550 (−52%) · High school

  18. 18Biofuels Processing Technicians

    81% similar · $62,470 (broader group) · High school · Same group

  19. 19Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    80% similar · $52,800 (−45%) · High school

  20. 20Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    80% similar · $38,760 (−60%) · High school

Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology

Similar jobs that pay more

Only careers that usually need no more preparation than petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers.

Thinking of a career change?

Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.

Jobs for former petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers →

Jobs that can lead here

Careers where petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).

Questions about jobs like petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

What jobs are most similar to petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers?

By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Biomass Plant Technicians (84% similar), Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (84% similar), Pump Operators (83% similar), Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (83% similar) and Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders (83% similar).

Which jobs like petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers pay more?

Among the 20 most similar careers, Power Plant Operators ($102,040, +6%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers ($96,710). Without more preparation than petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers usually need: Power Plant Operators.

How is the similarity percentage worked out?

We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.

Keep exploring

Sources. Skills, tasks and education: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Data Sources & Licenses