What are the main factors that influence a Petroleum Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Petroleum Operator's salary?

A Petroleum Operator's salary grows with experience: an Petroleum Operator (0-2 years)earns $51,398, an Office Services Professional II (2-4 years)earns $63,483, an Office Services Professional III (4-7 years)earns $76,417, an Office Services Professional IV (7+ years)earns $98,065, an Office Supervisor (7+ years)earns $73,102,

What are the highest paying states for a Petroleum Operator?

Petroleum Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Petroleum Operator roles are District of Columbia $55,544, California $55,334, Massachusetts $54,596. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Petroleum Operator roles make?

Salaries for Petroleum Operator level roles vary by specialization: Petroleum Technician: $157,296; Petroleum Landman: $150,397; Petroleum Engineer: $118,047; Petroleum Engineering: $112,409; Petroleum Specialist: $97,762.

How do different companies affect a Petroleum Operator's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Petroleum Operator roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Petroleum Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Petroleum Operator make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Petroleum Operator in the United States is $50,166 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

However, a Petroleum Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $61,773
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,253 to $56,242
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,870

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered HR

AI Onboarding

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Petroleum Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$56,242	$4,687	$1,082	$27
Average	$50,166	$4,181	$965	$24
25th Percentile	$44,253	$3,688	$851	$21

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Petroleum Operator Job Openings in the United States

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc. - Columbus, OH

Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital - Columbus, OH

Travel OR RN

Titan Medical Group, LLC - Columbus, OH

Travel PCU Registered Nursein

Aya Healthcare - Columbus, OH

Search More Petroleum Operator Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Petroleum Operator Salaries

A Petroleum Operator'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.

How Experience Level Affects Petroleum Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Petroleum Operator'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:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $51,398
Early Career (1-2 years): $63,483
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $76,417
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $98,065
Expert (over 8 years): $73,102

Levels	Salary
Petroleum... Level Petroleum Operator	$51,398
Office Se... Level Petroleum Operator	$63,483
Office Se... Level Petroleum Operator	$76,417
Office Se... Level Petroleum Operator	$98,065
Office Su... Level Petroleum Operator	$73,102

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Petroleum Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Petroleum Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $55,544.
California: $55,334.
Massachusetts: $54,596.

District of Columbia $55,544

California $55,334

Massachusetts $54,596

Washington $54,395

New Jersey $54,375

Alaska $54,305

Connecticut $53,613

New York $53,332

Hawaii $52,434

Rhode Island $52,013

Maryland $51,727

Minnesota $51,335

Colorado $51,185

Illinois $51,135

Oregon $50,944

Delaware $50,804

New Hampshire $50,715

Virginia $50,518

Pennsylvania $49,941

Nevada $49,650

North Dakota $49,554

Michigan $49,404

Wisconsin $49,349

Vermont $49,238

Texas $48,932

Maine $48,912

Arizona $48,882

Ohio $48,847

Georgia $48,385

Indiana $48,155

Wyoming $48,110

Utah $48,039

Iowa $48,009

Kansas $47,768

Louisiana $47,698

North Carolina $47,673

Missouri $47,663

Florida $47,467

Montana $47,362

Nebraska $47,262

Kentucky $47,207

South Carolina $47,006

Tennessee $46,881

Idaho $46,830

New Mexico $46,464

Oklahoma $46,384

Alabama $46,088

South Dakota $45,591

Arkansas $45,320

West Virginia $45,175

Mississippi $44,738

Top Paying Cities for Petroleum Operators

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:

San Jose: $63,275
San Francisco: $62,582
Oakland: $61,263

San Jose, CA $63,275

San Francisco, CA $62,582

Oakland, CA $61,263

New York, NY $57,761

Paramus, NJ $57,059

Queens Village, NY $57,056

Passaic, NJ $57,009

Bergenfield, NJ $57,004

Stamford, CT $56,894

Huntington, NY $56,873

Newark, NJ $56,502

Bridgeport, CT $56,397

Vallejo, CA $56,297

New Brunswick, NJ $56,277

Petaluma, CA $56,247

Middlesex, NJ $56,151

Somerset, NJ $56,116

Santa Cruz, CA $56,051

Boston, MA $55,745

Monterey, CA $55,569

Seattle, WA $55,454

Santa Rosa, CA $55,444

Los Angeles, CA $55,429

Juneau, AK $55,298

Washington, DC $55,243

Orange, CA $55,065

Santa Ana, CA $54,932

Long Beach, CA $54,882

Anaheim, CA $54,872

Anchorage, AK $54,847

Santa Maria, CA $54,696

Everett, WA $54,686

Danbury, CT $54,510

Bremerton, WA $54,441

Tacoma, WA $54,260

New Suffolk, NY $54,259

Sacramento, CA $54,245

Santa Barbara, CA $54,190

Trenton, NJ $54,135

San Diego, CA $54,135

Brockton, MA $54,079

Fairbanks, AK $53,956

Lompoc, CA $53,829

Lowell, MA $53,788

Ventura, CA $53,778

Nashua, NH $53,768

Stockton, CA $53,763

Modesto, CA $53,397

Poughkeepsie, NY $53,287

Olympia, WA $53,191

Kennewick, WA $53,191

New Haven, CT $53,171

Lawrence, MA $52,991

Hartford, CT $52,941

Riverside, CA $52,931

New Bedford, MA $52,880

Richland, WA $52,880

Bakersfield, CA $52,810

San Bernardino, CA $52,790

New Britain, CT $52,785

Atlantic City, NJ $52,785

New London, CT $52,765

Norwich, CT $52,750

Portsmouth, NH $52,740

Boulder, CO $52,634

Portland, OR $52,564

Worcester, MA $52,559

Minneapolis, MN $52,404

Philadelphia, PA $52,334

Honolulu, HI $52,168

Saint Paul, MN $52,144

Vineland, NJ $52,133

Providence, RI $51,987

Chicago, IL $51,842

Bellingham, WA $51,782

Springfield, MA $51,742

Baltimore, MD $51,727

Chico, CA $51,601

Pittsfield, MA $51,466

Manchester, NH $51,370

Spokane, WA $51,150

Denver, CO $51,145

Albany, NY $50,909

Troy, NY $50,889

Nassau, NY $50,835

Schenectady, NY $50,783

Wilmington, DE $50,743

Burlington, VT $50,673

Salem, OR $50,653

Portland, ME $50,497

Yakima, WA $50,447

Rochester, MN $50,292

Reno, NV $50,267

Fresno, CA $50,267

Milwaukee, WI $50,222

Detroit, MI $50,171

Ann Arbor, MI $50,163

Allentown, PA $50,156

Colorado Springs, CO $50,071

Syracuse, NY $50,046

Carson City, NV $50,046

Houston, TX $49,976

Eugene, OR $49,951

Gary, IN $49,890

Springfield, OR $49,850

Bismarck, ND $49,840

Galveston, TX $49,805

Medford, OR $49,730

Fort Collins, CO $49,710

Concord, NH $49,685

Austin, TX $49,670

Mesa, AZ $49,564

Reading, PA $49,559

Phoenix, AZ $49,554

Dallas, TX $49,539

Saint Cloud, MN $49,491

Madison, WI $49,424

Utica, NY $49,288

Rochester, NY $49,208

Des Moines, IA $49,203

Raleigh, NC $49,198

Atlanta, GA $49,123

Battle Creek, MI $49,108

Salt Lake City, UT $49,093

Lancaster, PA $49,018

Harrisburg, PA $48,947

Kansas City, MO $48,897

Champaign, IL $48,887

Kansas City, KS $48,887

Fort Worth, TX $48,882

Columbus, OH $48,874

Boca Raton, FL $48,862

Pittsburgh, PA $48,842

Richmond, VA $48,822

Indianapolis, IN $48,812

Cleveland, OH $48,807

Las Vegas, NV $48,747

Cincinnati, OH $48,747

Petersburg, VA $48,671

Huntsville, AL $48,596

Lansing, MI $48,563

Lebanon, PA $48,556

Pueblo, CO $48,551

Appleton, WI $48,536

Buffalo, NY $48,516

Dayton, OH $48,501

Racine, WI $48,491

Charlotte, NC $48,486

Saint Louis, MO $48,471

York, PA $48,441

Elkhart, IN $48,441

Gastonia, NC $48,431

Billings, MT $48,419

Beaumont, TX $48,406

Lorain, OH $48,396

Benton Harbor, MI $48,385

Toledo, OH $48,375

Binghamton, NY $48,350

Rock Hill, SC $48,345

Rockford, IL $48,320

Springfield, IL $48,300

Elyria, OH $48,295

Fargo, ND $48,295

Flagstaff, AZ $48,260

Fort Lauderdale, FL $48,230

Duluth, MN $48,200

Miami, FL $48,200

Cheyenne, WY $48,165

Grand Forks, ND $48,165

Bangor, ME $48,054

Cedar Rapids, IA $47,999

Durham, NC $47,978

Louisville, KY $47,974

Grand Rapids, MI $47,964

Hialeah, FL $47,959

Casper, WY $47,889

Scranton, PA $47,829

New Orleans, LA $47,814

Virginia Beach, VA $47,809

Akron, OH $47,783

Peoria, IL $47,718

Sarasota, FL $47,708

Nashville, TN $47,673

Omaha, NE $47,673

Green Bay, WI $47,673

Baton Rouge, LA $47,648

Charleston, SC $47,638

Jamestown, NY $47,613

Davenport, IA $47,613

Tucson, AZ $47,588

Saint Petersburg, FL $47,558

Tampa, FL $47,548

Evansville, IN $47,518

Port Arthur, TX $47,518

Bradenton, FL $47,498

Santa Fe, NM $47,407

Orlando, FL $47,317

Clearwater, FL $47,302

Canton, OH $47,197

La Crosse, WI $47,197

Albuquerque, NM $47,166

Newport News, VA $47,161

High Point, NC $47,146

Ogden, UT $47,126

Corpus Christi, TX $47,086

Norfolk, VA $47,056

Laramie, WY $47,056

Rock Island, IL $47,026

Saginaw, MI $47,016

Jacksonville, FL $47,011

Salisbury, NC $47,001

Boise, ID $46,991

Moline, IL $46,966

Fort Myers, FL $46,951

Memphis, TN $46,941

Tulsa, OK $46,916

Waterloo, IA $46,886

Spartanburg, SC $46,835

Lincoln, NE $46,810

Fort Wayne, IN $46,800

Provo, UT $46,795

Cedar Falls, IA $46,735

San Antonio, TX $46,715

Greensboro, NC $46,695

South Bend, IN $46,690

Savannah, GA $46,635

Muskegon, MI $46,615

Birmingham, AL $46,610

Winston Salem, NC $46,585

Lake Charles, LA $46,464

Anderson, IN $46,454

Lexington, KY $46,439

Augusta, GA $46,424

Greenville, SC $46,424

Lima, OH $46,384

Wichita, KS $46,379

Tuscaloosa, AL $46,379

Columbia, SC $46,334

Springfield, OH $46,324

Asheville, NC $46,243

Bloomington, IN $46,208

Knoxville, TN $46,028

Shreveport, LA $46,023

Wilmington, NC $45,957

Roanoke, VA $45,957

Topeka, KS $45,867

Frankfort, KY $45,862

Oklahoma City, OK $45,827

Chillicothe, OH $45,807

Longview, TX $45,802

Melbourne, FL $45,797

Sioux Falls, SD $45,717

Mobile, AL $45,712

Terre Haute, IN $45,692

Altoona, PA $45,661

Amarillo, TX $45,626

Killeen, TX $45,611

Fayetteville, AR $45,571

Chattanooga, TN $45,556

Sioux City, IA $45,511

Idaho Falls, ID $45,501

Lynchburg, VA $45,461

Gainesville, FL $45,396

Portsmouth, OH $45,370

Little Rock, AR $45,360

Lafayette, LA $45,340

Youngstown, OH $45,340

Daytona Beach, FL $45,310

Clarksville, TN $45,305

Pensacola, FL $45,300

Temple, TX $45,297

Hopkinsville, KY $45,150

Erie, PA $45,140

Florence, SC $45,120

Charleston, WV $45,039

Great Falls, MT $45,014

Macon, GA $44,944

Tallahassee, FL $44,939

Fayetteville, NC $44,929

Waco, TX $44,919

Helena, MT $44,884

Pine Bluff, AR $44,865

Vincennes, IN $44,804

Lubbock, TX $44,784

Alamogordo, NM $44,753

Twin Falls, ID $44,708

Rapid City, SD $44,693

Jackson, MS $44,603

Huntington, WV $44,599

Greenville, MS $44,598

Parkersburg, WV $44,547

Montgomery, AL $44,538

Wichita Falls, TX $44,488

Springfield, MO $44,488

Biloxi, MS $44,462

Monroe, LA $44,412

Johnstown, PA $44,377

Sumter, SC $44,357

Columbus, GA $44,352

Pascagoula, MS $44,257

Abilene, TX $44,257

Kingsport, TN $44,126

Albany, GA $44,126

Gulfport, MS $44,111

Alexandria, LA $43,946

Fort Smith, AR $43,820

El Paso, TX $43,685

Las Cruces, NM $43,459

Harlingen, TX $43,332

Pocatello, ID $43,324

Florence, AL $43,258

Brownsville, TX $43,248

Mcallen, TX $43,143

Dothan, AL $43,073

Columbus, MS $42,775

Altus, OK $42,541

Lawton, OK $42,446

Pierre, SD $42,265

What Skills Can Increase a Petroleum Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Customer Service (Mentioned in 16.09% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Accounting (Mentioned in 2.5% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
Customer Success (Mentioned in 1.22% Job Postings): Customer success is a method for ensuring customers reach their desired outcomes when using an organization's product or service.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Customer Service	16.09%
Accounting	2.5%
Customer Success	1.22%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Petroleum Operator's salary.

Linux: Can increase your salary by up to 67%.
DevOps: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Linux	$83,778	67%
DevOps	$64,715	29%
Insight	$63,711	27%
Project Management	$63,711	27%
Troubleshooting	$61,705	23%
Logistics	$61,203	22%

Get Latest Data

Petroleum Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Petroleum Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Petroleum Operator positions in Financial Services or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Petroleum Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Petroleum Operator

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities	$60,200	$29.0	20%
Business Services	$57,691	$28.0	15%
Healthcare	$56,186	$27.0	12%
Aerospace & Defense	$55,183	$27.0	10%
Insurance	$54,180	$26.0	8%

Petroleum Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Petroleum Operator'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

$44,253

Average $50,166/year

$56,242

$3,688

Average $4,181/month

$4,687

$851

Average $965/week

$1,082

$21

Average $24/hour

$27

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$56,242	$4,687	$1,082	$27
Average	$50,166	$4,181	$965	$24
25th Percentile	$44,253	$3,688	$851	$21

Salaries of jobs related to Petroleum Operator

Salary Trends for Petroleum Operator

Salaries for a Petroleum Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $49,275 in 2023 to around $48,139 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Petroleum Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Petroleum Operator Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$49,275

2024

$48,365

2025

$48,139

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$49,275
2024	$48,365
2025	$48,139
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Petroleum Operator

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Petroleum Operator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Petroleum Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

Confidential

Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President Internal Communications

Confidential | Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

16 Days Ago
C.R. England

Columbus, OH

Local CDL

C.R. England | Columbus, OH

Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

21 Days Ago
Confidential

Columbus, OH

Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

Confidential | Columbus, OH

Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

21 Days Ago
Confidential

Columbus, OH

Vice President Payments Engineering

Confidential | Columbus, OH

Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

23 Days Ago
Confidential

Columbus, OH

Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

Confidential | Columbus, OH

Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

23 Days Ago
USPS

Columbus, OH

USPS Postal Workers

USPS | Columbus, OH

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

29 Days Ago

For Employees

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.

For Employers

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.

FAQ about Petroleum Operator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Petroleum Operator?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Petroleum Operator roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about