Illinois
Refinery & Process Operator programs in Illinois
5 listed process operator programs in Illinois, plus BLS pay data for the state and 1 metro area.
- $103,080Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $93,690Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $102,890Median pay (state)
- $111,380Top 10% earn over
1,070 jobs in Illinois · 5 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.
Cities with listed programs
BLS wage data
Refinery & Process Operator pay in Illinois
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $93,690 | $101,310 | $102,890 | $111,370 | $111,380 | $103,080 | 1,070 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,920 | $96,350 | $111,370 | $111,380 | $111,380 | $100,730 | 620 |
Programs
Listed programs in Illinois
Every process operator program we matched in Illinois. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Chemical Technology/Technician | Chicago, IL | Associate degree | 0 | $4,710–$15,540 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Chemical Process Technology | Olney, IL | Associate degree | 7 | $5,260–$12,460 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0303 |
| Kankakee Community College Chemical Process Technology | Kankakee, IL | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $5,220–$18,720 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0303 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Godfrey, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 9 | $4,536–$8,232 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Godfrey, IL | Associate degree | 13 | $4,536–$8,232 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.