Kentucky

Refinery & Process Operator programs in Kentucky

8 listed process operator programs in Kentucky, plus BLS pay data for the state and 2 metro areas.

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$82,740Average pay (state, all experience levels)
$50,540Entry-level / bottom 10%
$78,670Median pay (state)
$106,810Top 10% earn over

520 jobs in Kentucky · 8 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 Kentucky

Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.
Area	10th pct	25th pct	Median	75th pct	90th pct	Mean	Employed
Kentucky	$50,540	$63,960	$78,670	$106,780	$106,810	$82,740	520
United States	$57,110	$77,510	$96,710	$106,320	$115,880	$90,630	33,160

Metro areas

Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown.
Area	10th pct	25th pct	Median	75th pct	90th pct	Mean	Employed
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$37,630	$59,690	$97,210	$101,140	$104,590	$79,980	50
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$59,770	$64,080	$78,670	$106,780	$106,810	$82,670	420

Programs

Listed programs in Kentucky

Every process operator program we matched in Kentucky. Schools with published tuition are listed first.

Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program.
Program / provider	Location	Type	Graduates 2023-24	Tuition	Source
Ashland Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician	Ashland, KY	Certificate (1-2 years)	23	$4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide)	IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301
Ashland Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician	Ashland, KY	Associate degree	22	$4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide)	IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301
Ashland Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician	Ashland, KY	Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)	28	$4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide)	IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301
Hazard Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician	Hazard, KY	Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)	21	$4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide)	IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301
Jefferson Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician	Louisville, KY	Certificate (1-2 years)	5	$4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide)	IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301
Jefferson Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician	Louisville, KY	Associate degree	6	$4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide)	IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301
Jefferson Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician	Louisville, KY	Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)	0	$4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide)	IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301
Maysville Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician	Maysville, KY	Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)	32	$4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide)	IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301

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Registered apprenticeships in KentuckyThe full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com Trade schools approved for the GI BillSearch programs that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com

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.