Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary by state
Monitor gauges and flowmeters and inspect equipment to ensure that tank levels, temperatures, chemical amounts, and pressures are at specified levels, reporting abnormalities as necessary.
Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of interconnections and capacities of pipelines, valve manifolds, pumps, and tankage.
Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers pay by experience level
Entry level$41,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$49,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$64,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$80,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$95,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,500
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary by industry
Specialty Trade Contractors
1,650 workers
$68,000
Support Activities for Mining
1,530 workers
$61,500
Support Activities for Mining
1,530 workers
$61,500
Pipeline Transportation
1,420 workers
$82,500
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
1,260 workers
$70,500
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
980 workers
$58,500
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
980 workers
$60,000
Utility System Construction
940 workers
$58,000
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only)
860 workers
$61,500
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
700 workers
$83,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers pays 4% below the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving
