Best Refinery Operator Training Programs in South Carolina

Refinery operator training programs in South Carolina prepare workers for careers in the state’s petroleum, chemical, and manufacturing industries.

These programs help professionals develop skills for managing boilers, steam systems, and refinery equipment. With major employers like BP, Savannah River Site, and Nucor Steel operating in the region, trained refinery operators are in demand. This guide details top training options, eligibility, course content, locations, enrollment, financial aid, and career prospects.

Who Should Attend?

These programs are for engineers, technicians, and supervisors managing boilers and fire pressure equipment. They help professionals improve skills in boiler operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Newcomers to process engineering can gain essential knowledge for refinery operations.

Required Skills and Qualifications

With no in‑state refineries, most operator openings are at Charleston‑area marine terminals or contractors; employers typically require HS/GED, clean MVR, ability to obtain a TWIC, pass drug/background screens, and work 12‑hour shifts in all weather. Knowledge of product transfer, HAZMAT basics, and safe work permits is valuable.

Course Overview

The Basic Steam Boiler Operator Training is a five-day program combining theory and hands-on learning. Topics include boiler safety, maintenance, troubleshooting, and environmental impact. Participants can take certification exams from Entry Level 3rd Class to Chief Engineering Level.

Key Topics

Boiler safety procedures
Electrical hazard prevention
Environmental regulations
Boiler functionality and upkeep
Water treatment methods
Process control systems
Hands-on troubleshooting

Orangeburg‑Calhoun Technical College – Electronics Engineering Technology: Electronic Instrumentation (A.A.S.)

Address: 3250 St Matthews Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29118, United States
Tel: +1 803-536-0311
Tuition fee:
- In-county: $214/credit
- Out-of-county: $257/credit

This degree builds the core skills operators and technicians use to measure and control process variables in complex facilities – calibrating instruments, integrating PLCs, and troubleshooting systems used across chemical plants, power plants, and other automated environments.

Program highlights

What you’ll do: Configure, program, calibrate, install, and troubleshoot industrial instrumentation that governs pressure, flow, level, temperature, pH, and related variables.
Plant context: Curriculum ties directly to maintaining the precision instruments that keep production within spec in process‑controlled systems.
PLC integration: Dedicated course EIT‑244: Computers & PLCs in Instrumentation links pneumatic/electronic instruments with PLCs for control and data acquisition.
Work‑based learning: The program includes a co‑op option (EIT 240 – Supervised Work Experience) with partners such as Dominion Energy and Sylvamo.

Trident Technical College – Mechatronics (A.A.S. & Certificates)

Address: 7000 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406, United States
Tel: +1 843-574-6111

Hands‑on mechatronics training that prepares technicians to install, test, align, troubleshoot, and repair automated and process‑control systems – the same integrated electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and instrumentation platforms found in large process plants.

Program highlights

Process‑control focus: The mechatronics track explicitly develops skills for automated and process control systems, including work with sensors and plant instrumentation.
Controls & instrumentation coursework: Examples include EIT 110 – Principles of Instrumentation, EIT 244 – Computers & PLCs in Instrumentation, and EGR 234 – Control Principles.

Upstate University of South Carolina

This self‑paced online program builds core refinery‑operator skills – safety, instrumentation, process control, and troubleshooting – so beginners can prepare for entry‑level roles. You can start anytime and complete the training fully online.

Tuition Fee: $2,795.00

Program highlights

Format: 100% online, self‑paced; open enrollment/start anytime.
Length & access: 400 course hours with up to 12 months to finish.
Credential: Certificate of Completion (noncredit).
Key topics: safety fundamentals; instrumentation & equipment operation; maintaining process variables (flows/temps/pressures); problem detection, trend analysis & corrective action; clear operations communication.
Who it’s for: Beginners – designed for learners with minimal industry background.

Pathways Into Refinery Operations

You don’t have to enroll in a program literally called “refinery operations” to get started. Training in related technical fields builds many of the same core skills – like systems control, process logic, safety, and equipment operation – that refineries rely on.

In South Carolina, if a Refinery Operations option is available, it’s one direct path. But you can also begin through study in Process Technology, Instrumentation & Controls, Industrial Maintenance, Petroleum Technology, or Safety Management. These routes teach you how to monitor systems, maintain equipment, understand control logic, and work safely – skills that prepare you for entry-level operator roles and set you up to grow into control room or supervisory positions.

Average Rent Near Refinery Operator Training Schools in South Carolina

Here’s a simple snapshot for Orangeburg–Calhoun Technical College (OCtech) in Orangeburg, South Carolina. OCtech is a commuter college and does not offer on‑campus housing. College Simply+1

Orangeburg–Calhoun Technical College (Orangeburg, SC)
- Off‑campus (1‑bedroom): ~$791/month (Orangeburg city 1‑BR average, Sept 2025). Apartments.com
- On‑campus: Not available (no residence halls). College Simply+1

Additional cost considerations

If you’ll rent off campus near OCtech, plan for utilities, getting to/from campus or work, and everyday supplies. Figures below are monthly anchors from current local/state sources.

Utilities

Expect four separate line items unless your lease bundles them.

Electricity: about $139.91/month – South Carolina’s average residential electric bill (2023, EIA). EIA
Natural gas (heat/cooking): about $87/month – statewide average monthly gas cost cited for South Carolina. 6AM – COLAtoday
Water & sewer (City of Orangeburg DPU): monthly service charges of $6.52 (water, ¾″ meter) and $15.72 (sewer) plus usage‑based charges (water: $0.66 + $1.15 per 100 cu ft; sewer: $0.39 + $1.96 per 100 cu ft). Small apartments commonly budget ~$50–$60/month when tenant‑paid. Orangeburg Utilities+1
Home internet: about $55/month (e.g., Xfinity 300 Mbps 5‑year price guarantee $55/mo, where available). Comcast+1

Transport and commute costs

Orangeburg County transit (Cross County Connection): $1 per ride each way on fixed routes; the Downtown Circulator offers the same fare with half‑fare for seniors/disabled riders. Orangeburg County+1
Campus parking: Parking permit $30 (purchase at Building S; permits required). Octech
If you drive: South Carolina average gas ~ $2.79/gal right now (AAA state average). AAA Fuel Prices

Food and supplies

For one adult in Orangeburg County, MIT’s Living Wage Calculator (updated Feb 10, 2025) is a clean planning guide:

**Groceries (“Food”): ~ $3,674/year → plan ~ $306/month. Living Wage Calculator
**“Other” necessities (personal care, small household items, phone/broadband share, etc.): ~ $3,770/year → ~ $314/month. In the budget below, this is split across Personal supplies, Dining out & entertainment, and Miscellaneous so it’s easy to plan.

Sample Monthly Budget

Example for an OCtech student renting a 1‑bedroom in Orangeburg and using local $1/ride buses. Rounded, easy to scan; sources appear on each line.

Expense category	Estimated monthly cost
Off campus rent	$791
Utilities cost (heat, electric, water, internet)	$337
Groceries	$306
Transport costs	$30
Personal supplies and toiletries	$120
Dining out and entertainment	$120
Miscellaneous	$74
Total estimated monthly cost	$1,778

Enrollment Process

Enrollment is online. Applicants submit personal details and payment, and support staff assist with the process via live chat or phone.

Financial Assistance

Funding options include state vocational aid, workforce development grants, and employer tuition reimbursement. Federal assistance does not cover non-credit courses; some institutions provide financing plans.

Course Requirements

Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent. Basic math skills are required. The curriculum covers:

Boiler operation and maintenance
Pump and valve management
Process instrumentation
Safety compliance
Energy efficiency techniques

Career Prospects

High retirement rates in the industry create job opportunities. Graduates can secure entry-level positions with competitive salaries, and with experience, salaries increase significantly.

Refinery Operator Salaries in South Carolina

Area	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean annual wage	Hourly wage 10th percentile	Hourly wage 25th percentile	Hourly wage 75th percentile	Hourly wage 90th percentile
South Carolina	$33.13	$68,920	$12.09	$23.48	$42.80	$42.80

Explore Job Listings for Refinery Operators in South Carolina

South Carolina openings cluster around Charleston (port fuel terminals, shipyards), the Greenville–Spartanburg manufacturing belt, and utilities near Columbia and the Savannah River Site. Not every posting is a refinery-operator job – or even directly refinery-track – but many support process operations, maintenance, and E&I/instrumentation across terminals, chem/paper plants, power, and water/wastewater. Expect day and rotating shifts, with some port roles requiring a TWIC and steady demand for safety-minded techs.

Job Title	Company	Location	Date Posted
Distribution System Operator	Charleston Water System	Charleston, SC	08/15/2025

Source: CareerOneStop.org

Self-Paced Learning

Online programs allow students to progress at their own pace. Features include recorded lectures, quizzes, and discussion forums for better understanding.

Support and Resources

Advisors help with course selection and requirements. Students can get assistance via phone and email during business hours.