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What is a fuel operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a fuel operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.66 an hour? That's $36,743 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 10,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreFuel OperatorUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $36,743

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.6

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.82%

Asian 2.28%

Black or African American 11.83%

Hispanic or Latino 21.10%

Unknown 4.63%

White 58.34%

Gender

female 10.35%

male 89.65%

Age - 39.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39.5
Stress level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Fuel operator career paths

Key steps to become a fuel operator

  1. Explore fuel operator education requirements

    Most common fuel operator degrees

    Bachelor's

    28.4 %

    High School Diploma

    27.2 %

    Associate

    26.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific fuel operator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Safety Rules26.08%
    Fuel Distribution7.94%
    Storage Tanks6.96%
    Petroleum Products4.66%
    Fuel Storage4.29%
  3. Complete relevant fuel operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New fuel operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a fuel operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fuel operator resumes.
  4. Research fuel operator duties and responsibilities

    • Used swift codes and ABA routing numbers to send billions of convert Euros (USD) to major bank accounts.
    • Correspond with OFAC to resolve block and reject transactions.
    • Supervise a crew of 10 or more workers to successfully rig up and rig down a job.
    • Operate pumps and monitor water levels in tanks...Also operate equipment and help on rig ups and rig downs
  5. Prepare your fuel operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fuel operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a fuel operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable fuel operator resume templates

    Build a professional fuel operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your fuel operator resume.
    Fuel Operator Resume
    Fuel Operator Resume
    Fuel Operator Resume
    Fuel Operator Resume
    Fuel Operator Resume
    Fuel Operator Resume
    Fuel Operator Resume
    Fuel Operator Resume
    Fuel Operator Resume
  6. Apply for fuel operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a fuel operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first fuel operator job

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Average fuel operator salary

The average fuel operator salary in the United States is $36,743 per year or $18 per hour. Fuel operator salaries range between $26,000 and $51,000 per year.

Average fuel operator salary
$36,743 Yearly
$17.66 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do fuel operators rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Fuel operator reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

it can be risky if safety measures are not put in place.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Cons

The chemicals involved that is the gases


profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

I like every thing to do the the fuel operations job specially Bulk Fuel installation


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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