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.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Gulf Coast refineries widely require HS/GED, driver’s license, legal work authorization, ability to pass pre‑employment assessments, drug/medical screening, and TWIC where marine docks are involved; employers favor PTEC/technical degrees or prior process experience, and expect 12‑hour DuPont‑style shifts, SCBA use, heights/confined space work, and strong safety habits.
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
- Tuition fee:
- In-dsitrict: $77/credit
- Out-of-district: $115/credit
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.
Pathways Into Refinery Operations
You don’t need a course explicitly labeled refinery operations to break into this field. Technical training in related areas builds many of the same skills – equipment control, process logic, instrumentation, and safety – that refineries use every day.
In Texas, you’ll find direct Refinery Operations training paths, but you can also use programs like Process Technology, Instrumentation & Controls, Industrial Maintenance, Petroleum Technology, or Safety Management to build your credentials. These routes prepare you to monitor systems, troubleshoot equipment, operate control logic, and maintain secure operations – giving you what you need to step into operator roles and climb the ladder over time.
Average Rent Near Refinery Operator Training Schools in Texas
Here’s a simple snapshot for College of the Mainland (COM) in Texas City, Texas. COM is a commuter college (no dorms), so most students rent nearby. College of the Mainland
- College of the Mainland (Texas City, TX)
- Off‑campus (1‑bedroom): ~$1,029/month (Texas City 1‑BR average, Sept 2025). Apartments.com
- On‑campus: Not available (COM is a commuter college; use nearby apartments). College of the Mainland+1
Additional cost considerations
If you’ll rent off campus around COM, plan for utilities, commuting, and day‑to‑day supplies. The figures below are easy monthly anchors from local/state sources.
Utilities
Most leases around Texas City bill electricity, gas (if used), water/sewer and internet separately.
- Electricity: about $165.82/month – Texas’s 2023 average residential electric bill (EIA). U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Natural gas (heat/cooking, if your unit has gas): plan $55–$75/month as a practical Texas benchmark; actuals vary by season and usage. Bay Management Group Texas
- Water & sewer (City of Texas City): city schedule lists water base charges by meter and sewer $4 per 1,000 gal plus a small monthly per‑drain fee; many renters see ~$45–$55/month when tenant‑paid. Texas City Official Website+1
- Home internet: about $50/month (e.g., Spectrum Internet Premier 500 Mbps $50/mo).
Transport and commute costs
- Local service (Gulf Coast Transit District – GCTD): Microtransit $1 per ride in Texas City; 20‑ride book $15; Texas City Park‑and‑Ride 50‑ride book $75. My Site+1
- Island Transit (if you travel to Galveston): Monthly pass $37.50. Galveston
- Parking at COM: Parking permits are free (registration required). College of the Mainland Academic Catalog
- If you drive: Texas average gas ~ $2.74/gal right now (AAA). AAA Fuel Prices
Food and supplies
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator for Galveston County is a clean guide for one adult:
- Groceries (“Food”): ~$3,811/year → plan ~$318/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. Living Wage Calculator
Sample Monthly Budget
Example for a COM student renting a 1‑bedroom in Texas City and mixing GCTD microtransit with occasional driving. Sources are shown on each line; calculation steps are intentionally omitted.
| Expense category | Estimated monthly cost |
| Off campus rent | $1,029 |
| Utilities cost (heat, electric, water, internet) | $325 |
| Groceries | $318 |
| Transport costs | $30 |
| Personal supplies and toiletries | $120 |
| Dining out and entertainment | $160 |
| Miscellaneous | $34 |
| Total estimated monthly cost | $2,016 |
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%
Explore Refinery Operator Job Listings in Texas
Texas openings span the Gulf Coast – Houston–Baytown, Texas City, Beaumont/Port Arthur, Corpus Christi – and inland hubs like DFW and San Antonio, covering refineries, petrochem, LNG, pipelines/terminals, and power. Not every posting is a refinery-operator job – or even directly refinery-track – but many support process operations, maintenance, and E&I/instrumentation in 24/7 plants. Expect strong demand, rotating and day shifts, and port roles that may require a TWIC.
| Job Title | Company | Location | Date Posted |
| Fuel Distribution System Operator (FDSO) | Maytag Aircraft Corporation | Fort Worth, TX | 07/14/2020 |
| Crude Oil Driver – Three Rivers | MISSION PETROLEUM CARRIERS INC | Three Rivers, TX | 09/10/2025 |
| CBA Oil Analysis Operator – AIMD Program – All sites | V2X | Kingsville, TX | 04/22/2025 |
| Control Room Operator | Streamline Innovations | San Antonio, TX | 08/13/2025 |
| Auto Fuel System Operator | Big Ass Tanks, LLC | Odessa, TX | 03/21/2024 |
Please note: The above mentioned listings are not permanent and are subject to change. For more accurate information, visit CareerOneStop.org.