Refinery Operator Training in Texas: Boost Your Career
Texas is a leader in the oil and gas industry, with many large refineries, such as ExxonMobil Baytown, Valero Texas City, Motiva Port Arthur, Phillips 66 Sweeny, Marathon Galveston Bay, CITGO Corpus Christi, and Valero Port Arthur.
Refinery operator training programs in Texas equip new workers with the skills to manage processes, maintain safety, and operate equipment. With over 41,000 positions expected by 2029 as experienced workers retire, these programs help fill a growing need.
Major Texas Refineries
Below is a table of some key refineries in Texas:
| Refinery Name | City | Capacity (bpd) | Owner/Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery | Baytown | 584,000 | ExxonMobil |
| Valero Texas City Refinery | Texas City | 424,000 | Valero Energy |
| Motiva Port Arthur Refinery | Port Arthur | 630,000 | Motiva Enterprises |
| Phillips 66 Sweeny Refinery | Sweeny | 186,000 | Phillips 66 |
| Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery | La Porte | 345,000 | Marathon Petroleum |
| CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery | Corpus Christi | 205,000 | CITGO |
| Valero Port Arthur Refinery | Port Arthur | 470,000 | Valero Energy |
Course Topics and Enrollment
Training courses cover clear topics such as measuring temperature, pressure, and flow. Students learn electrical safety and valve operation. They practice reading process drawings to handle equipment safely. Applicants must have a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate and basic computer skills. Some programs require a modern Windows computer for online learning.
Refinery Operator Programs in Texas
College of the Mainland — Petrochemical Process Technology (A.A.S.)
- Address: 1200 N Amburn Rd, Texas City, TX 77591, United States
- Tel: +1 409-938-1211
This degree develops refinery‑ready process technicians through a curriculum built with Gulf Coast industry input. The catalog emphasizes operator responsibilities in petrochemical environments and outlines a five‑semester sequence that leads directly into plant operations.
Program highlights
- Program mission centers on supplying a technically prepared workforce for the petrochemical operator profession; industry advisory committee guides continuous improvement.
- 60‑credit plan of study featuring PTAC core courses: Introduction to Process Technology, Safety/Health/Environment, Process Instrumentation I, Equipment, Systems, Operations, Process Troubleshooting, Quality, and the CTEC 2445 Unit Operations (capstone).
- Notes the realities of operator work (rotating shifts, physical tasks, work with chemicals) to align student expectations with field requirements.
Refinery Operator Internships in Texas
Motiva partners with Lamar State College Port Arthur to offer a 10‑week technical internship at the Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex. The program gives students first‑hand insight into a day in the life of an Operator and a path to apply for full‑time roles after completion.
Motiva offers a 10‑week technical internship for LSCPA students at Motiva’s Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex; designed to provide real exposure to operator work with the opportunity to transition to full‑time positions.
Refinery Operator Salaries in Texas
| Area | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean annual wage | Hourly wage 10th percentile | Hourly wage 25th percentile | Hourly wage 75th percentile | Hourly wage 90th percentile |
| Texas | $47.10 | $97,970 | $28.63 | $37.20 | $49.98 | $52.68 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $47.10 | $97,970 | $36.12 | $46.35 | $47.13 | $54.29 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $47.29 | $98,370 | $32.24 | $36.89 | $47.34 | $47.53 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $24.04 | $50,000 | $20.86 | $22.45 | $40.33 | $49.35 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $49.66 | $103,280 | $34.35 | $39.69 | $51.87 | $53.15 |
| Midland, TX | $45.92 | $95,510 | $35.46 | $38.50 | $51.74 | $53.24 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $41.65 | $86,640 | $27.57 | $33.78 | $50.69 | $51.36 |
Career Opportunities
Graduates can start in roles such as operators or floorhands. With experience, they may move into supervisory positions. Texas’s oil and gas industry needs skilled workers, and new roles in process safety and environmental care are emerging.
Texas has the largest refinery operator workforce in the nation, and employment is projected to grow steadily over the next decade. With nearly a thousand projected annual openings, the state offers some of the strongest career opportunities in this field.
- Projected annual job openings (2022–2032): 910
- Employment (2022): 8,940 employees
- Projected employment (2032): 9,640 employees
- Projected growth (2022–2032): 8%