--- title: "Refinery & Process Operator Salary in Arizona: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/arizona/ description: "Refinery & Process Operator pay in Arizona: BLS average $67,850 (all experience levels), median $60,070, bottom 10% $38,520; 180 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025)." updated: 2026-11-04 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Refinery & Process Operator](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/) 4. Arizona Arizona # Refinery & Process Operator pay in *Arizona* What refinery and process operators earn in Arizona: pay for the state and 1 metro area, plus job counts and no listed training programs yet. - **$67,850** Average across all experience levels (state) - **$38,520** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$60,070** Median pay (state) - **$106,360** Top 10% earn over 180 jobs in Arizona. Trade Elevator MechanicLineworkerIndustrial Automation TechnicianCrane OperatorOperating EngineerPipefitter & SteamfitterPlumberRefinery & Process OperatorAircraft MechanicElectrical & Electronic Engineering TechnicianIndustrial Electronics TechnicianElectricianHVAC/R TechnicianDiesel MechanicWelderIronworkerMillwrightConstruction InspectorZIP code Pay by percentile ## Refinery & Process Operator pay in Arizona Annual wages. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Arizona | $38,520 | $41,620 | $60,070 | $98,480 | $106,360 | $67,850 | 180 | | United States | $57,110 | $77,510 | $96,710 | $106,320 | $115,880 | $90,630 | 33,160 | Annual wages by percentile. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $41,130 | $45,640 | $70,220 | $100,380 | $132,140 | $75,370 | 80 | Metro area estimates, BLS, May 2025. Only areas BLS published are shown. At a glance ## How Arizona compares | | | | --- | --- | | Rank by average pay | 36 of 43 states and territories with a BLS estimate | | Average vs U.S. average | -25.1% ($67,850 vs $90,630) | | Median vs U.S. median | -37.9% ($60,070 vs $96,710) | | Median hourly wage | $28.88 | | Bottom 10% to top 10% | $38,520 to $106,360 | | Jobs per 1,000 jobs in the state | 0.06 | | Location quotient | 0.26 (less concentrated than the U.S. average of 1.00) | | Metro areas with a BLS estimate | 1: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $70,220 | Computed from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates state and metro files. A location quotient above 1 means the job makes up a larger share of employment in the state than nationally. Training ## Schools and apprenticeships in Arizona We found no process operator school program or registered apprenticeship sponsor in Arizona in the IPEDS 2023-24 completions file or the DOL partner file. Programs in nearby states may enroll out-of-state students. This site covers pay and careers; the school and apprenticeship directory lives on our sister site. [**See process operator schools and apprenticeship sponsors in Arizona** Full directory, entry requirements and how to apply · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/az/) Veterans can compare [trade schools approved for the GI Bill](https://veterantradeschools.com/) on VeteranTradeSchools.com. By the [HighPayingTrades Data Team](https://highpayingtrades.com/about/) · Updated Nov 4, 2026 ## Sources **Figures as of BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates (released 2026-05-15) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (released 2026-08-27).** - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-04. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [51-8093.00 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-8093.00), retrieved 2026-11-04 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades Data Team; last refreshed 2026-11-04. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/arizona/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.