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.
National median · BLS
$61,770
▲ +2.92%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$63,960
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
9,780
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$39,420
25th
$47,560
Median (50th)
$61,770
75th
$77,210
90th — top pay
$91,820
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
BLS projects employment of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 1,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
9,800 → 10,200
+400 jobs
Projected change
+4.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring3.9
Monitoring3.5
Operation and Control3.5
Active Listening3.1
Critical Thinking3.1
Reading Comprehension3.1
Speaking3.1
Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Time Management3.0
Troubleshooting3.0
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing3.4
English Language3.3
Mechanical3.3
Mathematics3.0
Administration and Management3.0
Computers and Electronics3.0
Engineering and Technology2.9
Public Safety and Security2.7
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordComputerized maintenance management system CMMSOperational databasesSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What pump operators, except wellhead pumpers do
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.
Connect hoses and pipelines to pumps and vessels prior to material transfer, using hand tools.
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.
Clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment.
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Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $61,770.
