--- title: "Refinery & Process Operator Programs in Michigan" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/ description: "Refinery & Process Operator pay in Michigan: BLS average $81,490 (all experience levels), median $84,030, bottom 10% $57,450. 8 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 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. Michigan Michigan # Refinery & Process Operator programs in *Michigan* 8 listed process operator programs in Michigan, plus BLS pay data for the state and 1 metro area. - **$81,490** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$57,450** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$84,030** Median pay (state) - **$101,820** Top 10% earn over 180 jobs in Michigan · 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 - [Big Rapids 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/big-rapids/) - [Grand Rapids 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/grand-rapids/) - [University Center 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/university-center/) - [Kalamazoo 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/kalamazoo/) - [Lansing 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/lansing/) BLS wage data ## Refinery & Process Operator pay in Michigan 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Michigan | $57,450 | $64,980 | $84,030 | $95,450 | $101,820 | $81,490 | 180 | | United States | $57,110 | $77,510 | $96,710 | $106,320 | $115,880 | $90,630 | 33,160 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $67,790 | $78,770 | $86,860 | $99,540 | $101,820 | $88,930 | 80 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in Michigan Every process operator program we matched in Michigan. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Delta College](https://www.delta.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | University Center, MI | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $4,910–$8,030 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Delta College](https://www.delta.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | University Center, MI | Associate degree | 9 | $4,910–$8,030 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Ferris State University](https://www.ferris.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Big Rapids, MI | Associate degree | 9 | $15,736 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Ferris State University](https://www.ferris.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Big Rapids, MI | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 2 | $15,736 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Grand Rapids Community College](https://www.grcc.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Grand Rapids, MI | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $4,270–$12,520 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Grand Rapids Community College](https://www.grcc.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Grand Rapids, MI | Associate degree | 0 | $4,270–$12,520 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Kalamazoo Valley Community College](https://www.kvcc.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Kalamazoo, MI | Associate degree | 5 | $4,242–$9,312 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | | [Lansing Community College](https://www.lcc.edu/) Chemical Technology/Technician | Lansing, MI | Associate degree | 0 | $4,100–$11,300 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 | 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. ### Browse by city - [Big Rapids 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/big-rapids/) - [Grand Rapids 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/grand-rapids/) - [University Center 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/university-center/) - [Kalamazoo 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/kalamazoo/) - [Lansing 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/lansing/) Related resources ## Keep researching [**Registered apprenticeships in Michigan** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/mi/) [**Trade schools approved for the GI Bill** Search programs that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://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](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 2026-11-03. - **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 2026-11-03 (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 team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/michigan/ 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.