Washington
Refinery & Process Operator programs in Washington
6 listed process operator programs in Washington, plus BLS pay data for the state and 1 metro area.
- $97,810Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $76,950Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $103,620Median pay (state)
- $114,980Top 10% earn over
930 jobs in Washington · 6 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 Washington
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $76,950 | $88,410 | $103,620 | $105,640 | $114,980 | $97,810 | 930 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | $82,410 | $99,910 | $105,640 | $105,640 | $112,950 | $100,250 | 380 |
Programs
Listed programs in Washington
Every process operator program we matched in Washington. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician | Bellingham, WA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 9 | $5,223–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Bellingham Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician | Bellingham, WA | Associate degree | 5 | $5,223–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Columbia Basin College Chemical Technology/Technician | Pasco, WA | Associate degree | 0 | $6,744–$8,835 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology Chemical Technology/Technician | Kirkland, WA | Associate degree | 0 | $10,701–$14,629 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Walla Walla Community College Chemical Technology/Technician | Walla Walla, WA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 6 | $5,442–$6,894 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Walla Walla Community College Chemical Technology/Technician | Walla Walla, WA | Associate degree | 0 | $5,442–$6,894 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
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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.