As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Refinery Process Operator III in the United States is $85,073 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.
However, a Refinery Process Operator III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered HR
Refinery Process Operator III Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $93,143 | $7,762 | $1,791 | $45 |
| Average | $85,073 | $7,089 | $1,636 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,843 | $6,820 | $1,574 | $39 |
Machine and Process Design - ANOKA, MN
EV Richardson III, DDS - MARION, VA
Nine Energy Service - CHARLEROI, PA
ConGlobal - LOUISVILLE, KY
A Refinery Process Operator III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Refinery Process Operator III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Refinery Process Operator III | $83,647 |
| Intermediate Level Refinery Process Operator III | $83,888 |
| Senior Level Refinery Process Operator III | $84,756 |
| Specialist Level Refinery Process Operator III | $88,104 |
| Expert Level Refinery Process Operator III | $89,670 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Refinery Process Operator IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Understanding how a Refinery Process Operator III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $93,143 | $7,762 | $1,791 | $45 |
| Average | $85,073 | $7,089 | $1,636 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,843 | $6,820 | $1,574 | $39 |
For a Refinery Process Operator III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Oil Refinery Operations Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $114,700 - a projected growth of 35% over your current level.
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Refinery Process Operator III and their salaries, click below for more details.
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Energy & Utilities
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Refinery Process Operator III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
