Refinery Process Operator Salary in Rapid City, SD

How much does a Refinery Process Operator make in Rapid City, SD?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Refinery Process Operator in Rapid City, SD is $75,265 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,200
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,523 to $82,559
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,385
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View as table View as graph 25% $68,523 10% $62,385 90% $89,200 75% $82,559 $75,265 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Refinery Process Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $82,559 $6,880 $1,588 $40
Average $75,265 $6,272 $1,447 $36
25th Percentile $68,523 $5,710 $1,318 $33
Check out Refinery Process Operator Job Openings in Rapid City, SD
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Key Factors That Influence Refinery Process Operator Salaries

A Refinery Process 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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Refinery Process Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Refinery Process 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): $74,609
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $74,797
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $76,014
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $79,674
  • Expert (over 8 years): $80,876
Levels Salary
Entry Level Refinery Process Operator$74,609
Intermediate Level Refinery Process Operator$74,797
Senior Level Refinery Process Operator$76,014
Specialist Level Refinery Process Operator$79,674
Expert Level Refinery Process Operator$80,876
$74,609 0 yr
$74,797 < 2 yrs
$76,014 2-4 yrs
$79,674 5-8 yrs
$80,876 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Refinery Process 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: $106,557
  • San Francisco: $105,390
  • Oakland: $103,169

What Skills Can Increase a Refinery Process Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Accountability (Mentioned in 4.89% Job Postings): Setting and holding oneself and others to stated expectations by associating tasks with our business's mission, values, and goals.
  • Nursing Practice (Mentioned in 2.7% Job Postings): Nursing practice may be work experience that is direct and/or indirect patient care in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation in the specialty represented by the credential.
  • Family Education (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Family education or “psychoeducation” is the ongoing process of educating family members about a serious mental illness in order to improve their coping skills and their ability to help a relative affected by the illness.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Accountability 4.89%
Nursing Practice 2.7%
Family Education 1.8%
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 Refinery Process Operator's salary.
  • Telecommunications: Can increase your salary by up to 40%.
  • Case Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Telecommunications
 $105,371
40%
Case Management
 $80,533
7%
Consulting
 $79,781
6%
Innovation
 $79,028
5%
Data Collection
 $78,276
4%
Nursing Process
 $77,523
3%
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Refinery Process Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Refinery Process 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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 01, 2026
$68,523
Average $75,265/year
$82,559
$5,710
Average $6,272/month
$6,880
$1,318
Average $1,447/week
$1,588
$33
Average $36/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $82,559 $6,880 $1,588 $40
Average $75,265 $6,272 $1,447 $36
25th Percentile $68,523 $5,710 $1,318 $33

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Cost of Living In Rapid City, SD

Cost of Living in Rapid City, SD is
2.1% Higher
than the National Average

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