Gas and Petroleum Operators

ANZSCO ID 399212

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
4,100
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
96%
Female Share
5%
Average age
44

Summary

Gas or Petroleum Operators operate equipment to pump oil and gas from wellheads, and refine and process petroleum products.

Also known as: Oil and Gas Well Treatment Operator; Oil, Gas and Pipe Tester; or Petroleum and Gas Refining and Pumping Operator.

Specialisations: Gas Compressor Turbine Operator, Petroleum Blending Plant Operator, Petroleum Terminal Plant Operator, Refinery Pipeline Operator.

A certificate III in process plant operations is usually needed to work as a Gas or Petroleum Operator. Some workers complete a traineeship.

Tasks

  • Controls equipment that performs continuous and batch processes to process natural gas, manufacture refined petroleum products, and blend petroleum base stocks to produce commercial fuels, lubricating oils and asphalt.

  • Controls the preparation, measuring and feeding of raw material and processing agents into plant.

  • Patrols and inspects equipment to ensure proper operation and sets operating controls on equipment.

  • Analyses samples and readings and records test data.

  • Controls records of production, quantities transferred and details of blending and pumping operations.

  • Checks equipment for malfunctions and arranges maintenance.

  • Writes reports and maintains records on equipment performance, instrument readings and switching operations.

  • Carries out routine operating tests.

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Medium

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 96% of people employed as Gas and Petroleum Operators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 30 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 57 hours per week in their main job. This is 13 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Mining
43.9%
2
Manufacturing
26.0%
3
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
8.2%
4
Construction
3.8%
5
Other industries
12.5%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

10.8% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

20.2% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

29.1% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

9.0% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

26.4% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

0.8% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

3.8% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Gas and Petroleum Operators All Jobs Average
NSW 10.8 31.6
VIC 20.2 25.6
QLD 29.1 20.0
SA 9.0 7.0
WA 26.4 10.8
TAS 0.8 2.0
NT 3.8 1.0
ACT 0.0 1.9


  • Around 52% of Gas and Petroleum Operators live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Western Australia and Queensland have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    The regions with the largest share of workers are:

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
44
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
5%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Gas and Petroleum Operators is 44 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.

    Females make up 5% of the workforce. This is 43 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Gas and Petroleum Operators All Jobs Average
15-19 0.3 5.0
20-24 1.5 9.3
25-34 20.4 22.9
35-44 30.6 22.0
45-54 30.4 21.6
55-59 10.8 9.0
60-64 4.8 6.0
65 and Over 1.1 4.2
Median Age 44 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A certificate III in process plant operations is usually needed to work as a Gas or Petroleum Operator. Some workers complete a traineeship.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Resources and Infrastructure Industry, Gas Industry, National Water Industry, Chemical, Hydrocarbons & Refining, Electricity Supply Industry - Generation Sector VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Gas and Petroleum Operators All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 1.8 10.1
Bachelor degree 7.4 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 13.3 11.6
Certificate III/IV 56.3 21.1
Year 12 9.7 18.1
Year 11 3.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 7.9 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Boat Builders and Shipwrights who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 68%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 55%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 54%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 54%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 54%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 50%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 46%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 46%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 46%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 45%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 45%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 43%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 43%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 43%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 43%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 41%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 41%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 41%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 39%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • 37%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 61%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 50%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 46%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 42%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 42%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 41%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 41%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 35%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 31%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 31%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 31%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 29%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 28%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 27%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 26%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 23%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 23%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 22%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 21%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 18%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 57%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 55%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 55%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 54%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 54%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 54%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 54%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 54%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 54%

    Reaction time

    Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.

  • 54%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 54%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 52%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 52%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 50%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 48%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 48%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 48%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 45%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 45%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 43%

    Hearing sensitivity

    Tell the difference between sounds.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 84%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 75%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 73%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 70%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 69%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 67%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 66%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 66%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 63%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 60%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 60%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 59%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 59%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 57%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 57%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 53%

    Managing payments and orders

    Monitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.

  • 51%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 49%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 48%

    Coaching and developing others

    Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.

  • 48%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 62%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 33%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 24%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 19%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 14%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 81%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 62%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 62%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 52%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 48%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 43%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 98%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 96%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 94%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 94%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 92%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 91%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 90%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 89%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 89%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 86%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 86%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 86%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 86%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 85%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 84%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 84%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 83%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 82%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 82%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-8093.00 - Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers.


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