Prevailing Wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Board Operators, Crude Unit Operators, Gaugers, and other refinery professionals sponsored on H-1B or green card visas must meet DOL prevailing wage floors before an LCA can be certified. DOL sets four experience levels for this occupation, and the floor shifts substantially by city, so the same Hydrotreater Operator role can carry very different minimums in Texas versus California.
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Level 1 covers entry-level Board Operators with limited refinery experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Employers file here for candidates still building foundational knowledge of pump systems, gauging equipment, or unit controls, often in their first one to two years on the job.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It covers qualified Crude Unit Operators and Gaugers who work independently on standard tasks, have completed safety certifications, and apply established procedures without requiring close oversight. Most sponsored mid-career operators fall here.
Level 3 applies to experienced operators who handle complex refinery units, troubleshoot process deviations, and may informally guide junior staff. Employers file here for professionals with substantial tenure who exercise independent judgment on non-routine situations across multiple unit types.
Level 4 reflects fully competent senior operators, including lead Board Operators or unit leads with comprehensive cross-unit expertise. These professionals set procedural standards, mentor others, and are accountable for safe operation across broad process areas, often in complex or high-throughput refinery environments.
Prevailing Wage for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Board Operator and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for split-site LCA worksite errors
Refinery operators often rotate across terminals, pipelines, and storage facilities within a metro. If your offer letter names one worksite but you will work at multiple locations, the LCA must list each worksite correctly, or the prevailing wage floor used may not match the higher-wage location.
Confirm your wage level before signing
Gaugers and outside operators are frequently filed at Level 1 even when they independently manage tank measurement and custody transfer, which is typically Level 2 scope. Reviewing the job duties description on the LCA against your actual responsibilities protects you from an underleveled filing.
Avoid signing-bonus language that inflates base pay
Refinery employers occasionally structure offers with a signing bonus that is later recouped if you leave early. DOL counts only guaranteed, regularly paid wages toward prevailing wage compliance, so the annualized bonus cannot be used to close a gap between your base salary and the floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors in refinery-heavy metros
Crude Unit Operator and Gauger roles are concentrated in a small number of refinery clusters. Migrate Mate shows which employers have a verified history of sponsoring this occupation, so you can prioritize companies that have already navigated the LCA process for refinery operator roles specifically.
Jobs for Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Board OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-8093.00 alongside Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Board Operator Prevailing Wage
Board Operator Prevailing Wage
Board Operator positions fall under SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Crude Unit Operator Prevailing Wage
Crude Unit Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Crude Unit Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Gauger Prevailing Wage
Gauger Prevailing Wage
Gauger is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Hydrotreater Operator Prevailing Wage
Hydrotreater Operator Prevailing Wage
Hydrotreater Operator positions fall under SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Operator Prevailing Wage
Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Outside Operator Prevailing Wage
Outside Operator Prevailing Wage
Outside Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pumper Prevailing Wage
Pumper Prevailing Wage
Pumper positions fall under SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Refinery Operator Prevailing Wage
Refinery Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Refinery Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Stillman Prevailing Wage
Stillman Prevailing Wage
Stillman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Unit Operator Prevailing Wage
Unit Operator Prevailing Wage
Unit Operator positions fall under SOC 51-8093.00 (Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Board Operator roles?
DOL derives prevailing wages from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For Board Operators under SOC 51-8093, OFLC assigns one of four wage levels based on the complexity, supervision, and judgment the role requires, producing a location-specific floor that employers must meet before an LCA is certified.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which level applies to my role?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified operators working independently on standard tasks. Level 3 applies to experienced professionals handling complex units or non-routine problems. Level 4 is reserved for senior or lead operators with full cross-unit competency. The level should match your actual job duties on the LCA, not just your job title or years of service.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Gauger or operator role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so each metro's floor reflects local labor market rates rather than a national average. Refinery clusters in California markets typically show higher floors than Gulf Coast or Midwest metros because of regional cost differences and local industry compensation patterns. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and the prevailing wage from that specific area applies, not the employer's headquarters wage.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve an H-1B petition. For green card PERM cases, DOL will audit or deny applications where the offered wage does not meet the floor. The employer must either adjust the salary to meet or exceed the prevailing wage or file at a lower wage level that accurately reflects the job duties.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Board Operator role in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you search by SOC code 51-8093 and metropolitan area to see the current four-level wage floors for this occupation. You can also review O*NET for occupational context. Migrate Mate can help you identify employers with an active history of sponsoring refinery operator roles in specific metro areas, narrowing your search to companies already familiar with this SOC.
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