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Oil Refinery Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Clean Harbors

Refinery Operator I

East Chicago, IN · On-site

Safety-Kleen is seeking a Refinery Operator to join our team in East Chicago, IN. This position ... Oil and gas experience is an asset! * Mechanically inclined or familiar with general tools

CleanHarbors

Refinery Operator I

East Chicago, IN

Safety-Kleen is seeking a Refinery Operator to join our team in East Chicago, IN. This position ... Oil and gas experience is an asset! * Mechanically inclined or familiar with general tools

Clean Harbors

Refinery Operator I

East Chicago, IN · On-site

Safety-Kleen is seeking a Refinery Operator to join our team in East Chicago, IN. This position ... Oil and gas experience is an asset! * Mechanically inclined or familiar with general tools

Bunge

Refinery Operations Manager

Decatur, AL · On-site

Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering or related field or equivalent progressive experience of 10+ years in soybean crushing, oil refining ...

Bunge

Refinery Operations Manager

Decatur, AL

Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering or related field or equivalent progressive experience of 10+ years in soybean crushing, oil refining ...

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Oil Refinery information

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How much do oil refinery jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for oil refinery in the United States is $15.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $17.31 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What do oil refinery workers do?

Oil refinery workers are responsible for operating and maintaining equipment used to process crude oil into usable products such as gasoline, diesel, and other petrochemicals. They monitor instruments and control systems, perform routine inspections, and troubleshoot issues to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the refinery. Safety is a major concern in this field, so workers must follow strict protocols and respond quickly to any emergencies. Additionally, they may be involved in quality control and environmental compliance activities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Oil Refinery Operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Oil Refinery Operator, you need a solid understanding of chemical processes, mechanical aptitude, and typically a high school diploma or vocational training in process technology. Familiarity with distributed control systems (DCS), safety management systems, and certifications such as OSHA or HAZMAT are commonly required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong teamwork skills help operators manage complex systems and respond effectively to emergencies. These competencies are vital to ensure operational efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance in a high-risk industrial environment.

What is the difference between Oil Refinery vs Oil Refinery Operator?

AspectOil RefineryOil Refinery Operator
Primary RoleOversees entire refinery operations, manages processes, and ensures safety and efficiencyOperates and monitors specific equipment and processes within the refinery
CredentialsTypically requires engineering or technical degrees, certifications in safety and process controlRequires technical training, certifications in plant operation and safety
Work EnvironmentOffice and plant floor, overseeing multiple departmentsPrimarily on the plant floor, operating machinery and monitoring systems
Industry UsageUsed to describe the entire facility or companyRefers to the individual responsible for daily operational tasks

In summary, an Oil Refinery is the facility or organization, while an Oil Refinery Operator is a key worker responsible for operating equipment within the refinery. Both roles are essential but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What Are Jobs in an Oil Refinery?

Jobs in an oil refinery involve moving and processing materials, as well as managing the daily operations. Your responsibilities in an oil refinery may include operating equipment to transport large amounts of crude oil, controlling the oil pressure, monitoring for other problems, and generally working to create useful raw materials for petroleum products. Other duties may include conducting visual inspections of equipment, communicating with team members, performing scheduled maintenance, ensuring a clean work area, adjusting machines, and complying with safety and environmental procedures. Many refinery jobs have a narrow focus. For example, refinery loaders almost exclusively handle unloading materials from trucks and railcars.

What are some common challenges faced by employees working in an oil refinery environment?

Employees in oil refineries often encounter challenges such as maintaining strict safety protocols due to the presence of hazardous materials and high-pressure equipment. The work environment can be physically demanding, involving shift work or long hours, and requires constant vigilance to prevent accidents. Additionally, teamwork and clear communication are essential, as many tasks are performed collaboratively to ensure smooth operation and compliance with environmental regulations.

What jobs make $500,000 a year?

In the oil refinery industry, executive roles such as refinery managers, plant directors, and senior engineers can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses and profit sharing. These positions typically require extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and often involve overseeing large-scale operations and safety compliance.
More about Oil Refinery jobs
What cities are hiring for Oil Refinery jobs? Cities with the most Oil Refinery job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Oil Refinery jobs? The most popular types of Oil Refinery jobs are:
What states have the most Oil Refinery jobs? States with the most job openings for Oil Refinery jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Oil Refinery jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Oil Refinery jobs are:
Oil Refinery jobs near you
Infographic showing various Oil Refinery job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $32,578 per year, or $15.7 per hour.
Senior VCO Engineer - Short-Range - Refined Fuels

Senior VCO Engineer - Short-Range - Refined Fuels

CHS, Inc.

Mcpherson, KS • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago

CHS Inc. rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 34 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

55th of 339 rated logistics

Job description

CHS Inc. is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States that provides grain, food and energy resources to businesses and consumers around the world. We serve agriculture customers and consumers across the United States and around the world. Most of our employees are in the United States, but today we have employees in 19 countries. At CHS, we are creating connections to empower agriculture.
Summary
CHS, Inc. is hiring a Senior VCO Engineer - Short-Range - Refined Fuels at our McPherson refinery responsible for refinery-level short-term production planning, LP model stewardship, economic evaluation, and operational performance analysis in support of refinery execution.
Reporting to the Director, Value Chain Optimization (VCO), this role leads development of the monthly operations plan, supports refinery LP model and crude assay database integrity, and provides economic modeling support for refinery operations, crude oil supply, refined fuels sales, pipeline operations, and capital investments. This position requires strong technical capability in refinery processes and linear programming applications. The role ensures refinery planning accuracy, operational responsiveness, and economic rigor while partnering with the Mid-Range E&P Engineer to align short-term execution with mid-term value chain strategies.
Responsibilities
Short-Term Production Planning & Operations Support
  • Prepare and present the monthly refinery operations plan.
  • Develop refinery production plans including throughput, crude slate, yields, blending strategies, and inventory targets.
  • Conduct monthly post-audits and benchmarking analysis to evaluate refinery performance against plan.
  • Analyze crude refining values and provide short-term economic optimization recommendations.
  • Support refinery response to operational changes, unit outages, constraint shifts, or market movements.
  • Interface with crude oil scheduling, refinery operations, and laboratory personnel to ensure production orders are operationalized through the refinery. From crude oil input to blending to finished product.

LP Model Stewardship & Database Integrity
  • Maintain refinery LP model database, including integration of unit test run data and operational updates.
  • Monitor unit operations and yields and update LP inputs as appropriate.
  • Support maintenance of LP configuration for refinery inputs, processes, blending operations, and inventory options.
  • Maintain refinery crude assay database and ensure accurate crude quality representation.
  • Ensure alignment between LP assumptions and actual refinery operating conditions.

Economic Studies & Capital Support
  • Performance Support economic studies to facilitate refinery and commercial decisions.
  • Assist in evaluation of crude supply opportunities and commercial transactions impacting refinery economics.
  • Prepare economic analysis for initiatives including discounted cash flow and payout evaluations.

Analysis & Benchmarking
  • Support refinery performance benchmarking and reporting activities.
  • Prepare performance reports and communicate economic results to refinery leadership.
  • Identify operational improvement opportunities through economic and yield analysis.
  • Represent refinery commercial interests in internal and external discussions as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Collaborate with refinery operations, process engineering, supply teams, and commercial stakeholders.
  • Provide consultative input to mid-term planning alignment discussions.
  • Support LP improvement and data validation initiatives in coordination with the Mid-Range E&P Engineer.
  • Communicate planning assumptions, risks, and economic impacts clearly across functions.

Minimum Qualifications (required)
  • Bachelor's degree (B. S.) in applicable engineering field of study from an accredited four-year college or university
  • 4+ years experience in refinery or related downstream energy experience.

Additional Qualifications
  • Understanding of crude oil refinery processes.
  • Working knowledge of linear programming concepts and refinery LP models.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to manage dynamic operational variables.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal relationship skills.
  • Experience supporting refinery economic analysis or optimization initiatives.
  • Knowledge of refinery LP systems such as Haverly GRTMPS or similar linear programming software.
  • Knowledge of process simulation tools such as Petro-SIM or Aspen HYSYS.
  • Oil & Gas industry experience.
  • Pre-employment screening is based on the job requirements and industry guidelines and may or may not be required for the position. If required, selected candidates must pass pre-employment screenings to include all or a combination of drug, criminal, motor vehicle check, physical requirements and FMSCA Clearinghouse.

CHS offers a competitive total rewards package. Compensation includes base wage and, depending upon position, may include other earnings such as bonus, incentives and commissions. Actual pay offered will vary based on multiple factors which may include, without limitation, experience, education, training, specialized skills and certifications, minimum wage/salary requirements under local law.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, wellness programs, life insurance, health and dependent care spending accounts, paid time off, 401(k), pension, profit sharing, short- and long-term disability, tuition reimbursement and adoption assistance, subject to the eligibility requirements for each benefit plan.
CHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability.
Please note that any communication from a CHS recruiter would be sent using a chsinc.com email address. In addition, a CHS recruiter will not ask for confidential information over the phone or in an email, or request money from a candidate involved in an offer process. If you have questions regarding an employment opportunity, please reach out to chscareers@chsinc.com; to verify that the communication is from CHS.

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