Refinery & Process Operator programs in West Virginia
9 listed process operator programs in West Virginia, plus BLS pay data for the state and 2 metro areas.
- $85,280Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $72,430Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $83,910Median pay (state)
- $97,400Top 10% earn over
330 jobs in West Virginia · 9 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 West Virginia
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $72,430 | $81,090 | $83,910 | $89,570 | $97,400 | $85,280 | 330 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $81,090 | $81,090 | $81,090 | $86,430 | $91,440 | $82,950 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $59,770 | $64,080 | $78,670 | $106,780 | $106,810 | $82,670 | 420 |
Programs
Listed programs in West Virginia
Every process operator program we matched in West Virginia. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College Chemical Process Technology | South Charleston, WV | Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | $5,800–$12,319 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0303 |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College Chemical Process Technology | South Charleston, WV | Associate degree | 11 | $5,800–$12,319 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0303 |
| Pierpont Community and Technical College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Fairmont, WV | Certificate (1-2 years) | 4 | $5,762–$13,660 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| Pierpont Community and Technical College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Fairmont, WV | Associate degree | 4 | $5,762–$13,660 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| West Virginia Northern Community College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Wheeling, WV | Certificate (1-2 years) | 5 | $4,917–$13,317 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| West Virginia Northern Community College Petroleum Technology/Technician | Wheeling, WV | Associate degree | 2 | $4,917–$13,317 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0903 |
| West Virginia Northern Community College Chemical Technology/Technician | Wheeling, WV | Associate degree | 0 | $4,917–$13,317 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Chemical Technology/Technician | Martinsburg, WV | Associate degree | 5 | Contact program | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 41.0301 |
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Chemical Process Technology | Martinsburg, WV | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | Contact program | 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.