[Site name]

Oil refinery control room operator

Also called supervisor, process operator, operations supervisor

Oil refinery control room operators perform a range of tasks from the control room of an oil refinery. They monitor the processes through electronic representations shown on monitors, dials, and lights. Control room operators make changes to variables and communicate with other departments to make sure processes keep running smoothly and according to established procedures. They take appropriate actions in case of irregularities or emergencies.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects27 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering associate professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Petroleum and natural gas refining plant operators · ILO

What you'd do

Petroleum and natural gas refining plant operators · ILO
  • Operating electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units
  • Adjusting equipment, valves, pumps, controls and process equipment
  • Controlling process start-up and shut-down, troubleshooting and monitoring outside process equipment
  • Verifying equipment for malfunctions, testing well pipes for leaks and fractures and arranging for maintenance
  • Analysing sample products, performing tests, recording data and writing production logs
Manage emergency proceduresCoordinate remote communicationsWrite production reportsConduct inter-shift communicationMonitor equipment condition+ 2 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering associate professionals in the EU
7.4m7.3m7.49m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
142,000 new jobs 1,835,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering associate professionals27
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of petroleum and natural gas refining plant operators, 4 a surplus.
Petroleum and natural gas refining plant operators · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in chemistry is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 41%Vocational 43%General secondary 7%Basic schooling 9%
Fields that teach it
Chemistry · Chemical engineering and processes
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Science and maths graduates in a matching job
63% in the EU

697 institutions in the EU offer science and maths bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.29 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Analysing sample products, performing tests, recording data and writing production logs0.47
Operating electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units0.30
Adjusting equipment, valves, pumps, controls and process equipment0.27
Controlling process start-up and shut-down, troubleshooting and monitoring outside process equipment0.26
Verifying equipment for malfunctions, testing well pipes for leaks and fractures and arranging for maintenance0.17

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for petroleum and natural gas refining plant operators. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).