Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Transportation and Material Moving · SOC 53-7072 · O*NET 53-7072.00
Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers fall under the Transportation and Material Moving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers earn a median salary of $60,020 per year, ranking in the top 49% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.6% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers earn?
The median annual wage for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers is $60,020. That puts pump operators, except wellhead pumpers at #394 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $37,850 |
| 25th percentile | $47,270 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,020 |
| 75th percentile | $75,160 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,660 |
| Median hourly wage | $28.86/hr |
Is pump operators, except wellhead pumpers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers is +2.6%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 13K positions in 2024 to 13K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
- 2.Tend vessels that store substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials, checking levels of substances by using calibrated rods or by reading mercury gauges and tank charts.
- 3.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.
- 4.Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
- 5.Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
- 6.Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
- 7.Connect hoses and pipelines to pumps and vessels prior to material transfer, using hand tools.
- 8.Test materials and solutions, using testing equipment.
Top skills for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become pump operators, except wellhead pumper?
Many pump operators, except wellhead pumpers enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
What is the median salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
The median annual salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers is $60,020 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is pump operators, except wellhead pumpers a growing career?
BLS projects +2.6% growth for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become pump operators, except wellhead pumper?
The typical entry path requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Related occupations within the Transportation and Material Moving category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.