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Oil refinery operator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, oil refinery operators don't need a college education. The most common degree for oil refinery operators is bachelor's degree with 33% graduates, with only 33% oil refinery operator graduates earning associate degree. Oil refinery operators who decided to graduate from college often finish DeVry University or Alcorn State University. Some good skills to have in this position include production equipment, distillation and flow rates.

What education do you need to become an oil refinery operator?

What degree do you need to be an oil refinery operator?

The most common degree for oil refinery operators is bachelor's degree, with 33% of oil refinery operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 33% and associate degree degree at 29%.
  • Bachelor's, 33%
  • Associate, 33%
  • High School Diploma, 29%
  • Diploma, 4%

What should I major in to become an oil refinery operator?

You should major in industrial technology to become an oil refinery operator. 12% of oil refinery operators major in industrial technology. Other common majors for an oil refinery operator include communication and criminal justice.

Best majors for oil refinery operators

20 best online courses for oil refinery operators

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1. Advanced Process Control & Safety Instrumented Systems SIS

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Learn the most relevant Petroleum Refining Operations such as Crackers, Reformers, Alkylation for Oil & Gas...

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6 courses in 1 : Oil Production Economics Trading Pricing Specifications Logistics Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals...

10. Introduction to Instrumentation

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11. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

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Optimize your Supply Chain Safety Stock. Simple to Advanced Methods. Reduce Costs and Risk in your Business Operations...

13. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

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14. Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems

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15. Flow of fluids through piping systems , valves and pumps

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17. PID Controllers - Intro to Control Design

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18. Process/Chemical Engineering - BOOTCAMP 2021

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19. Electrical Control & Protection Systems

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20. Applied Control Systems 1: autonomous cars: Math + PID + MPC

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Average oil refinery operator salary by education level

Oil refinery operator education levelOil refinery operator salary
High School Diploma or Less$47,495

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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