Refinery & Process Operator programs in New Mexico
4 listed process operator programs in New Mexico, plus BLS pay data for the state and 1 metro area.
- $79,270Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $48,380Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $74,340Median pay (state)
- $104,790Top 10% earn over
420 jobs in New Mexico · 4 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 New Mexico
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $48,380 | $62,800 | $74,340 | $101,770 | $104,790 | $79,270 | 420 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington, NM | $63,710 | $68,570 | $70,080 | $92,880 | $114,250 | $80,980 | 80 |
Programs
Listed programs in New Mexico
Every process operator program we matched in New Mexico. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern New Mexico College Chemical Technology/Technician | Espanola, NM | Associate degree | 1 | $6,400–$14,328 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Southeast New Mexico College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Carlsbad, NM | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $1,296–$2,400 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| Southeast New Mexico College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Carlsbad, NM | Associate degree | 0 | $1,296–$2,400 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| Southeast New Mexico College Chemical Process Technology | Carlsbad, NM | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $1,296–$2,400 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0303 |
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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.