Refinery Project Supervisor — U.S. onshore refinery projects. Typical mid-career median pay centers around $72.50/hr, $920/day, or $137,500/year, with substantial upside during turnarounds and for high-risk units.
| Modality | Mid-Career Median | Scope Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $72.50 | Owner or contractor, day-shift base (excl. OT) |
| Day Rate | $920 | Field-based 1099/W-2 contractor on projects/TAR |
| Annualized | $137,500 | Salaried supervisor (base + typical bonus target) |
Figures reflect this specific role only (refinery project supervisor), not grouped families or adjacent jobs. Regional notes and drivers in Section III.
I. Pay Breakdown
Experience-banded estimates for refinery project supervisors. Percentiles indicate typical low/mid/high within each band for comparable scope.
Entry (0–4 years supervising small capex/maintenance scopes)
| Pay Type | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $45.00 | $55.00 | $62.50 |
| Day Rate | $520 | $650 | $780 |
| Annualized | $90,000 | $112,500 | $130,000 |
Mid-Career (5–10 years; unit-level projects, small TAR packages)
| Pay Type | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $62.50 | $72.50 | $82.50 |
| Day Rate | $780 | $920 | $1,060 |
| Annualized | $117,500 | $137,500 | $157,500 |
Senior (10–20+ years; multi-discipline, TAR block lead/EPC interface)
| Pay Type | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $80.00 | $90.00 | $105.00 |
| Day Rate | $1,000 | $1,150 | $1,300 |
| Annualized | $145,000 | $167,500 | $192,500 |
Notes
- Annualized is a base-target figure for salaried roles and excludes extraordinary OT/TAR premiums, per diem, and completion bonuses.
- Contractor annualization depends on utilization. Typical conversions: \( \text{Annualized} \approx \text{Day Rate} \times 220\text{–}240 \) working days; \( \text{Annual} \approx \text{Hourly} \times 2{,}080 \).
II. How Pay Changes
- Experience and scope
- Supervising a single craft and low-risk tie-ins sits near the 25th within each band.
- Standalone unit revamps, multi-contractor coordination, and critical-path work trend to median.
- Multi-unit turnarounds, hot work in live plants, or HF alkylation/FCCU leadership push toward the 75th and above (often via premiums).
- Training and certifications
- Site safety: OSHA 30, refinery safety council/BOP, TWIC — commonly required; lack of these suppresses offers.
- Supervisor credentials: NCCER Project Supervision, confined space/LOTO authorization, lift planning — improves access to higher-paying scopes.
- Quality/technical depth (e.g., welding/PQR familiarity, pressure equipment knowledge, turnaround work packs, P6 proficiency) supports higher pay on complex work.
- While PMP is management-focused, in-plant supervisors with planning/scheduling fluency (P6) and change control see stronger offers.
- Added responsibilities
- Night shift lead or 6×10s/7×12s schedules add OT premiums.
- Permit-to-work ownership, simultaneous operations (SIMOPS), and multiple contractor oversight typically add differentials.
- Travel, per diem, completion/retention bonuses, and hazard allowances (e.g., HF units) can materially lift total comp above base ranges.
III. Market Drivers Affecting Pay for THIS Role
- Turnaround (TAR) cycle intensity
- Heavy TAR seasons spike day rates and OT demand for experienced supervisors, especially on critical-path packages.
- Regional hot spots
- U.S. Gulf Coast (TX/LA): Highest volume of projects and TARs; pays near or above medians, with spikes for specialty units.
- West Coast: Often higher base but tighter site access and union environments; premiums on complex revamps.
- Midcontinent/Northeast: More moderate ranges unless tied to major turnarounds or modernization programs.
- Owner vs. contractor
- Owner-operator salaried roles anchor annualized comp with structured bonus targets.
- Contractor roles favor day-rate/OT upside, particularly when utilization is high and schedules are extended.
- Talent scarcity in specialty scopes
- Supervisors with proven records on FCCU, cokers, reformers, or HF alkylation command upper-quartile pay.
- Project mix and margin environment
- High refinery utilization and strong crack spreads support larger capex and longer TAR worklists, tightening supervisory labor and lifting rates.
IV. Entry Pathways
- Progression from craft foreman/general foreman (pipefitting, welding, boilermakers, electrical/instrumentation) into project supervision.
- Maintenance/operations personnel moving into capital/expense project supervision inside the plant.
- Planners/schedulers or field coordinators stepping up to supervise execution crews during projects/TARs.
- Junior project engineers transitioning into field supervision on brownfield revamps.
To validate local offers, search jobs on Rigzone and compare with the specific unit scope, shift pattern, and contractor vs. owner context.
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