Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals) — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals) industry earns $116,846 per year ($56.18/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$116,846
Avg Annual Pay
67,454
Total Employees
5,774
Total Establishments
12
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers Workers Earn?

At $116,846/year (equivalent to $56.18/hour for a full-time worker), petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals) wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.

Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.

The typical petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals) business employs 12 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

9.1%

For the average petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals) business generating $15.4M/year with 12 employees at $116,846 each, total payroll represents roughly 9.1% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals)business, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $151,900/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 12 employees = ~$1,402,152/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $56.18/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $15.4M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals) employees make?
The average petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals) employee earns $116,846 per year, which is equivalent to $56.18/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals) industry?
The petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations and terminals) industry employs 67,454 workers across 5,774 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 12 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).