SOC 51-8093 · New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers Salary in New Orleans, LA

The average salary for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in New Orleans, Louisiana is $97,150 a year ($46.71 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $107,490: half of the 1,560 people in this job in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($90,630).

$97,150average per year

$46.71 / hourMedian $107,490Take-home ≈ $74,647

  • $53K10th
  • $92K25th
  • $107KMedian
  • $111K75th
  • $111K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

1,560people in this job
+7%vs U.S. average
#1 of 3Louisiana metros
93cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay range in New Orleans

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $111,370 or more. The middle half of petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in New Orleans earn between $91,640 and $111,060.

  • $53K10th
  • $92K25th
  • $107KMedian
  • $111K75th
  • $111K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$97,150$8,096$46.71
Median$107,490$8,958$51.68
Entry level (25th percentile)$91,640$7,637$44.06
Experienced (75th percentile)$111,060$9,255$53.39

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.

Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in New Orleans earn 4% more than the Louisiana average ($93,680) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($90,630). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $96,710.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
New Orleans$97,150$107,490$53,280$111,3701,560
Louisiana$93,680$106,640$42,160$111,0603,490
United States$90,630$96,710$57,110$115,88033,160

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary after taxes in New Orleans

On the average salary of $97,150, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $74,647 a year, or $6,221 a month and $2,871 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).

Louisiana paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is New Orleans a good place for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $97,150 buys what about $104,917 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $97,150 is worth in another city

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary in other Louisiana cities

New Orleans ranks 1st of 3 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

All Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salaries in Louisiana

Highest-paying cities for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($114,810).

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers in New Orleans, LA.

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers salary in New Orleans: questions

How much do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers make an hour in New Orleans?

$46.71 an hour on average, and $51.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers salary in New Orleans?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $91,640, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers take-home pay in New Orleans?

About $74,647 a year ($6,221 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,150.

Do petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?

The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($90,630).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8093; area New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
  • Job concentration: location quotient 16.46, this job is 16.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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