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How much do fractionation operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for fractionation operator in the United States is $20.34, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $22.84 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Fractionation Operator job?

A Fractionation Operator is responsible for overseeing the process of separating mixtures of chemicals or crude oil into distinct components based on boiling points. They monitor and control equipment such as distillation columns, heat exchangers, and pumps to ensure efficient operation. Their duties include adjusting temperatures and pressures, conducting quality checks, and troubleshooting any operational issues. Fractionation Operators play a key role in industries like oil refining, natural gas processing, and chemical manufacturing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Fractionation Operator position, and why are they important?

A Fractionation Operator requires a solid understanding of industrial processes, equipment operation, and safety protocols, often gained through a high school diploma or technical certification in process technology. Familiarity with distributed control systems (DCS), monitoring instruments, and adherence to OSHA safety standards are critical for daily operations. Attention to detail, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities help operators manage complex procedures and respond effectively to issues. Mastery of these skills ensures safe, efficient, and high-quality production in industries like petrochemicals or food processing.

What are the typical work shifts and team structure for Fractionation Operators?

Fractionation Operators commonly work in rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to ensure continuous plant operation. You will usually be part of a team that includes other operators, maintenance personnel, and supervisors, collaborating closely to monitor equipment and troubleshoot processes. Team members often rely on each other for smooth shift handovers and to maintain compliance with safety and production standards. The work environment is typically fast-paced, requiring strong communication and cooperation within your operational unit.
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Fractionation Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fractionation Operator job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 62% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 36% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,306 per year, or $20.3 per hour.
Principal Process Engineer - Fractionation

Principal Process Engineer - Fractionation

Valero Energy

San Antonio, TX • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Valero rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 70 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

49th of 74 rated oil and gas companies

Job description

Description
Valero is looking for a Principal Process Engineer - Fractionation to join the Process Optimization & Support team at the Valero Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. The Principal Process Engineer - Fractionation serves as Fractionation Subject Matter Expert providing best in class support for refinery optimization and project support.
Responsibilities may also include:
  • Reports to Technology Advisor, Fractionation and Crude units
  • Supports day-to-day routine optimization and troubleshooting distillation and Crude and Vacuum unit issues across the Refinery sites as needed.
  • Provides higher level troubleshooting and debottlenecking capability.
  • Responds to refinery requests for assistance.
  • Provide technical leadership to further develop Valero's Process Chemical treatment program.
  • Assists plants with investigation and implementation of strategic projects.
  • Assists in the development and application of distillation and Crude and Vacuum unit technologies across the Refinery sites.
  • Stays abreast of emerging technology in in Distillation, Crude and Vacuum units.
  • Assists with establishing Key Processing "Best Practices" to improve profitability, including: operating conditions, feedstock processing, hardware change recommendations, monitoring process conditions, and unit performance reporting/comparison (benchmarking).
  • Supports capital development process in technology selection and front-end engineering as requested.
  • Conducts regular site visits to assist in evaluation, monitoring, troubleshooting, process design, performance tests, and optimization.
  • Conducts site visits during turnarounds/outages to assist with tower inspections, scope development, and solution evaluations.
  • Provides training for Valero early career engineers; Crude/Vacuum, Intro/Advanced Distillation, Intern, and selected onsite training (Operations support and Installation/Inspection).
  • Manages projects ranging from $50k - $5M.
  • Acts as primary contact with and monitors performance of Consultants, Vendors, Construction Contractors, and Subcontractors, etc. employed for the projects.
  • Communicates formally and informally to management at the refinery.
  • Develops and releases monthly Progress Reports.
  • Resolves technical/commercial/schedule issues and conflicts.
  • Controls project changes and directs communication with the refinery management regarding changes and change control.

This position is salaried exempt status, which means you are not eligible for overtime pay.
Qualifications
  • Bachelors of Science (B.S.) degree or higher degree in Chemical Engineering required.
  • 15 years of process engineering experience in a refining or petroleum industry, including field experience with startups and operating plant troubleshooting required.
  • Field experience in P&IDs review, Instrument Identification, Unit operations, and troubleshooting-data acquisition required.
  • Field experience in troubleshooting fractionating towers and separators and in optimization of operating distillation columns required.
  • Experience with process design of fractionating internals and their hydraulic ratings required.
  • Ability to quickly assess unit/tower/separator performance issues, arrive at actionable recommendations and provide clear communications to operations, refinery leadership and corporate leadership required.
  • Able and willing to work on-site, in-person at the Valero San Antonio location, required.
  • Strong written and presentation skills is highly preferred.
  • Experience in primary crude fractionation operation, including desalting and vacuum systems preferred.
  • Experience with leading unit startups, including revamps and new units preferred.

All successful candidates must be eligible to obtain a TWIC card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). It is Valero's policy that employees must wear this card at all times while working at the refinery. Please review eligibility criteria at https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic.
Position level and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Valero's employees are the heart of its success, and there is a reason why the company is an employer of choice in the fuels manufacturing and marketing industry. It's not just the excellent benefits package, or the opportunities for personal growth, it's also the caring and committed culture of the organization that makes everyone feel like they're truly part of a team. For more information, visit Valero.com.
Valero is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, including race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Please be advised, if you are viewing this position on a website that lists an estimated salary rate/range, it was not provided by Valero. Valero's market specific salary rate/range will be provided during the recruiting process and tends to be higher than what is estimated by such websites.
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