How to hire a refinery operator

How to hire a refinery operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step refinery operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a refinery operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new refinery operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the refinery operator you need to hire. Certain refinery operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect refinery operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of refinery operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Refinery Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Refinery Operator		$14-35
   Process Operator	A process operator's role is to supervise all production operations in a manufacturing plant or similar setting. To ensure the efficiency and safety of the workforce and the workload, a process operator must regularly conduct inspections on the manufacturing processes and provide an assessment of the employees' progress... Show more	$13-23
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Ladders
   • Product Quality
   • Control Room
   • Rail Cars
   • OSHA
   • Emergency Situations
   • Tank Farm
   • CPR
   • Distillation
   • Crude Oil
   • Process Equipment
   • Flow Rates
   • Process Indicators

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage multiple large volume fermentation tanks simultaneously.
   • Work include LOTO procedures and gathering oil samples for the onsite lab.
   • Have knowledge of cryo plant production, amine, and NGL production.
   • Operate gas/oil fire heat exchangers.
   • Repair equipment with jsa, loto usuing procedures.
   • Conduct monthly safety surveys to ensure the unit maintain OSHA compliance.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your refinery operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A refinery operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, refinery operators' average salary in wyoming is 29% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level refinery operators earn 59% less than senior-level refinery operators.
   • Certifications. A refinery operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a refinery operator's salary.

   Average refinery operator salary

   $47,058yearly

   $22.62 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level refinery operator salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a refinery operator job description

   A refinery operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a refinery operator job description:

   Refinery operator job description example

   At Materion, everyone is included, respected and offered opportunity to grow. Join us!
   
   Silver Refinery Cell Technician
   
   Summary
   To perform all tasks of silver crystal production according to all guidelines and standards set by management in a safe and efficient manner.
   
   You will:
   Harvest silver crystal in a timely manner for Waste Water Treatment TechnicianEnsure the solution quality and maintain according to standards Keep all cells running safely and under supervision Report all quality and hazard issues to SupervisorKeep cells properly filled with anodes and water
   
   Requirements:
   High School Diploma or GED1-3 years experience in refinery and or manufacturing experience Prior chemical or metals processing related work experience preferred Basic computer skills with MS Office
   
   Materion Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) is an equal employment opportunity employer. It is the Company's policy to not unlawfully discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants and employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also the Company's policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions. The information collected by this application is solely to determine suitability for employment, verify identity and maintain employment statistics on applicants.
   
   Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the Company. Please inform the Company's personnel representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.
   
   Please provide complete information. An incomplete application may affect your consideration for employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right refinery operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your refinery operator job on Zippia to find and recruit refinery operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit refinery operators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new refinery operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the refinery operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new refinery operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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