Refinery & Process Operator programs in Colorado
3 listed process operator programs in Colorado, plus BLS pay data for the state and 2 metro areas.
- $88,890Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $62,620Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $93,750Median pay (state)
- $104,590Top 10% earn over
120 jobs in Colorado · 3 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.
BLS wage data
Refinery & Process Operator pay in Colorado
Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.
| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $62,620 | $78,390 | $93,750 | $103,180 | $104,590 | $88,890 | 120 |
| United States | $57,110 | $77,510 | $96,710 | $106,320 | $115,880 | $90,630 | 33,160 |
Metro areas
| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $59,500 | $76,790 | $101,600 | $103,830 | $104,590 | $92,350 | 50 |
| Greeley, CO | $80,290 | $81,620 | $93,750 | $101,070 | $103,180 | $92,440 | 40 |
Programs
Listed programs in Colorado
Every process operator program we matched in Colorado. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aims Community College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Greeley, CO | Associate degree | 0 | $2,426–$12,266 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| Aims Community College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Greeley, CO | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 1 | $2,426–$12,266 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| Pueblo Community College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Pueblo, CO | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $5,214–$18,254 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
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Sources
- 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; data tables). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03.
- Occupation: O*NET OnLine, 51-8093.00 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0).
- Apprenticeship sponsors: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 (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; CIP-SOC crosswalk).
- 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).
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 team; last refreshed 2026-11-03.