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The differences between refinery operators and oilers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a refinery operator, becoming an oiler takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a refinery operator has an average salary of $47,058, which is higher than the $41,034 average annual salary of an oiler.
The top three skills for a refinery operator include safety procedures, ladders and product quality. The most important skills for an oiler are preventative maintenance, oiling, and lube.
| Refinery Operator | Oiler | |
| Yearly salary | $47,058 | $41,034 |
| Hourly rate | $22.62 | $19.73 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 34,423 | 215 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 29% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Refinery operators oversee the entire production process of the plant operation. Responsibilities for this position are as diverse as the required knowledge fields, including identifying and correcting refinery process issues, operating equipment, monitoring meters and gauges, and meeting set area production goals. It necessitates many knowledge requirements, including, but not at all limited to product quality, control room operations, safety procedures, OSHA regulations, and process conditions.
An Oiler applies or puts lubricants, oil, or fuel on vehicles, motors, or machines. Besides monitoring and recording gage readings, an Oiler also helps professional engineers to start and operate machinery. These professionals service vehicles, motors, or machines from time to time and help skilled engineers maintain, repair, and overhaul them. Other duties performed by oilers include cleaning and maintaining the engine room, repairing and welding the engine part and deck, and recording all the engine department's tasks.
Refinery operators and oilers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Refinery Operator | Oiler | |
| Average salary | $47,058 | $41,034 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $73,000 | Between $23,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a refinery operator and an oiler in terms of educational background:
| Refinery Operator | Oiler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 29% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | General Studies |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between refinery operators' and oilers' demographics:
| Refinery Operator | Oiler | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 4.3% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 2.7% White, 68.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 6% |