Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers (SOC 53-7072) earn a median $61,770 a year ($29.70 an hour) in the United States, with 9,780 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Illinois.
What pump operators, except wellhead pumpers do
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, run stationary and portable pumps and manifold systems that transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, and powdered materials between vessels and processes. O*NET alternate titles such as acid pump operator, booster station operator, brewery pumper, and concrete boom pump operator show how many industries use this work. The work centers on controlling flow: connecting hoses and pipelines before a transfer, turning valves, starting pumps, and signaling or radioing coworkers to start and stop the flow. Operators monitor gauges and flowmeters to keep tank levels, temperatures, chemical amounts, and pressures at specified levels, and report abnormalities. Planning is part of the job, as operators route products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using their knowledge of how pipelines, valve manifolds, pumps, and tankage connect. They tend storage vessels, checking levels with calibrated rods or tank charts, and clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels. They also record the products and quantities pumped, the stocks used, gauging results, and operating times. Wellhead pumpers, who work directly on oil and gas wells, are classed separately, and so are gas compressor operators.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Acid Loader, Acid Pump Operator, Airveyor Operator, Boom Pump Operator, Booster Station Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.95 | $22.86 | $29.70 | $37.12 | $44.14 | $30.75 | 9,780 |
| Annual | $39,420 | $47,560 | $61,770 | $77,210 | $91,820 | $63,960 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where pump operators, except wellhead pumpers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $30.05 | $35.77 | $44.38 | $48.08 | $55.83 | $43.46 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.13 |
| Annual | $62,510 | $74,410 | $92,310 | $100,010 | $116,120 | $90,400 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $24.00 | $27.50 | $39.14 | $42.30 | $48.48 | $35.82 | 70 | 0.17 | 2.76 |
| Annual | $49,920 | $57,200 | $81,400 | $87,990 | $100,830 | $74,500 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $29.91 | $30.70 | $38.56 | $46.81 | $47.50 | $38.72 | 120 | 0.38 | 6.00 |
| Annual | $62,210 | $63,850 | $80,210 | $97,370 | $98,810 | $80,530 | ||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $23.63 | $29.62 | $37.41 | $39.61 | $45.45 | $35.83 | 290 | 1.03 | 16.39 |
| Annual | $49,150 | $61,610 | $77,820 | $82,390 | $94,540 | $74,530 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $19.76 | $31.57 | $34.56 | $35.08 | $35.58 | $32.25 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.31 |
| Annual | $41,090 | $65,660 | $71,890 | $72,970 | $74,000 | $67,090 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $19.55 | $22.60 | $29.70 | $40.23 | $50.78 | $32.37 | 2,110 | 0.15 | 2.38 |
| Annual | $40,660 | $47,010 | $61,770 | $83,680 | $105,620 | $67,330 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $19.06 | $29.65 | $30.82 | $36.51 | $37.98 | $31.28 | 1,370 | 0.71 | 11.30 |
| Annual | $39,650 | $61,670 | $64,110 | $75,940 | $78,990 | $65,060 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.53 | $21.42 | $27.72 | $35.52 | $41.54 | $29.11 | 1,220 | 0.07 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $36,470 | $44,550 | $57,660 | $73,880 | $86,390 | $60,560 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $18.61 | $22.43 | $26.22 | $37.50 | $42.40 | $28.82 | 630 | 0.32 | 5.12 |
| Annual | $38,710 | $46,650 | $54,540 | $77,990 | $88,200 | $59,940 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.31 | $19.00 | $28.42 | $31.96 | $36.02 | $27.42 | 510 | 0.05 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $38,080 | $39,520 | $59,120 | $66,480 | $74,920 | $57,040 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | Hourly | $22.48 | $34.40 | $39.47 | $50.84 | $50.84 | $39.82 | 90 | 0.53 | 8.38 |
| Annual | $46,770 | $71,560 | $82,090 | $105,740 | $105,740 | $82,830 | ||||
| Baton Rouge, LA | Hourly | $13.97 | $27.19 | $38.38 | $39.05 | $44.99 | $33.25 | 100 | 0.25 | 3.96 |
| Annual | $29,050 | $56,550 | $79,840 | $81,220 | $93,580 | $69,160 | ||||
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | Hourly | $28.95 | $30.38 | $37.99 | $42.65 | $42.65 | $36.53 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $60,220 | $63,190 | $79,010 | $88,720 | $88,720 | $75,980 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $18.50 | $21.60 | $36.86 | $46.59 | $51.19 | $34.40 | 770 | 0.23 | 3.70 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $44,930 | $76,670 | $96,900 | $106,480 | $71,560 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $29.91 | $30.45 | $36.45 | $41.69 | $46.81 | $36.87 | 60 | 0.34 | 5.38 |
| Annual | $62,220 | $63,340 | $75,810 | $86,720 | $97,370 | $76,690 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $18.50 | $21.60 | $36.86 | $46.59 | $51.19 | $34.40 | 770 | 0.23 | 3.70 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $44,930 | $76,670 | $96,900 | $106,480 | $71,560 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $25.03 | $29.34 | $30.55 | $40.09 | $45.89 | $34.04 | 410 | 0.04 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $52,060 | $61,030 | $63,540 | $83,390 | $95,450 | $70,800 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $21.35 | $24.74 | $30.52 | $40.23 | $43.25 | $32.52 | 300 | 0.25 | 3.92 |
| Annual | $44,410 | $51,460 | $63,480 | $83,670 | $89,950 | $67,630 | ||||
| Midland, TX | Hourly | $18.46 | $23.67 | $26.35 | $37.12 | $44.24 | $29.51 | 270 | 2.22 | 35.24 |
| Annual | $38,390 | $49,240 | $54,800 | $77,210 | $92,030 | $61,370 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $19.55 | $26.09 | $30.32 | $39.25 | $43.97 | $32.26 | 250 | 0.04 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $40,650 | $54,270 | $63,060 | $81,640 | $91,450 | $67,100 | ||||
Top industries employing pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
Support Activities for Mining employ 15.6% of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers nationally (1,530 jobs) at a median $60,730 a year ($29.20 an hour), followed by Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (12.9%) and Utility System Construction (9.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Mining NAICS 213100 | 1,530 | 15.6% | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors NAICS 238100 | 1,260 | 12.9% | $63,040 | $30.31 |
| Utility System Construction NAICS 237100 | 940 | 9.6% | $52,700 | $25.34 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) NAICS 4240A3 | 860 | 8.8% | $59,120 | $28.42 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil NAICS 486100 | 700 | 7.2% | $80,090 | $38.51 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (9,780). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $49,580 for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in May 2021 and $61,770 in May 2025, with employment of 10,600 and 9,780.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $49,580 | $23.84 | 10,600 |
| May 2022 | $55,860 | $26.86 | 10,870 |
| May 2023 | $54,690 | $26.29 | 11,570 |
| May 2024 | $60,020 | $28.86 | 12,600 |
| May 2025 | $61,770 | $29.70 | 9,780 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
37 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois profile | $44.38 | $92,310 | $62,510 | $116,120 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.13 |
| 2 | North Dakota profile | $39.14 | $81,400 | $49,920 | $100,830 | 70 | 0.17 | 2.76 |
| 3 | Alaska profile | $38.56 | $80,210 | $62,210 | $98,810 | 120 | 0.38 | 6.00 |
| 4 | Wyoming profile | $37.41 | $77,820 | $49,150 | $94,540 | 290 | 1.03 | 16.39 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $34.56 | $71,890 | $41,090 | $74,000 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.31 |
| 6 | Montana profile | $34.51 | $71,770 | $46,110 | $113,410 | 50 | 0.11 | 1.67 |
| 7 | Michigan profile | $33.43 | $69,540 | $46,800 | $118,810 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.13 |
| 8 | Alabama profile | $32.16 | $66,890 | $41,030 | $88,020 | 100 | 0.05 | 0.74 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $31.97 | $66,500 | $53,090 | $75,400 | 150 | 0.04 | 0.59 |
| 10 | New Jersey profile | $31.24 | $64,990 | $61,030 | $95,450 | 310 | 0.07 | 1.13 |
| 11 | Ohio profile | $31.11 | $64,700 | $47,570 | $88,720 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.44 |
| 12 | Louisiana profile | $30.82 | $64,110 | $39,650 | $78,990 | 1,370 | 0.71 | 11.30 |
| 13 | Georgia profile | $30.79 | $64,050 | $35,300 | $93,300 | 130 | 0.03 | 0.43 |
| 14 | Texas profile | $29.70 | $61,770 | $40,660 | $105,620 | 2,110 | 0.15 | 2.38 |
| 15 | Mississippi profile | $29.65 | $61,670 | $43,490 | $71,830 | 70 | 0.06 | 1.00 |
| 16 | Utah profile | $29.61 | $61,590 | $44,030 | $106,650 | 250 | 0.15 | 2.31 |
| 17 | West Virginia profile | $29.54 | $61,450 | $54,630 | $90,200 | ** | ** | ** |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.16 | $60,660 | $40,890 | $83,280 | 190 | 0.03 | 0.51 |
| 19 | Indiana profile | $29.14 | $60,620 | $46,600 | $67,390 | ** | ** | ** |
| 20 | Wisconsin profile | $29.00 | $60,320 | $52,000 | $116,800 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.40 |
| 21 | Idaho profile | $28.94 | $60,200 | $52,060 | $80,060 | ** | ** | ** |
| 22 | Minnesota profile | $28.70 | $59,700 | $56,740 | $101,140 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.33 |
| 23 | Florida profile | $28.42 | $59,120 | $38,080 | $74,920 | 510 | 0.05 | 0.82 |
| 24 | New Mexico profile | $28.33 | $58,920 | $46,700 | $81,010 | 80 | 0.09 | 1.50 |
| 25 | Nevada profile | $27.87 | $57,980 | $46,930 | $84,980 | 150 | 0.10 | 1.53 |
| 26 | California profile | $27.72 | $57,660 | $36,470 | $86,390 | 1,220 | 0.07 | 1.07 |
| 27 | Washington profile | $27.42 | $57,030 | $55,980 | $115,920 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.38 |
| 28 | Oregon profile | $26.22 | $54,540 | $38,710 | $88,200 | 630 | 0.32 | 5.12 |
| 29 | Tennessee profile | $25.06 | $52,120 | $35,440 | $62,810 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.40 |
| 30 | Maine profile | $24.70 | $51,370 | $44,440 | $93,500 | ** | ** | ** |
| 31 | New York profile | $23.08 | $48,010 | $43,720 | $77,200 | 300 | 0.03 | 0.50 |
| 32 | Oklahoma profile | $22.55 | $46,900 | $38,600 | $76,900 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.80 |
| 33 | Colorado profile | $22.44 | $46,680 | $45,730 | $89,510 | ** | ** | ** |
| 34 | Kentucky profile | $22.40 | $46,600 | $38,130 | $70,050 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.32 |
| 35 | Nebraska profile | $22.20 | $46,170 | $45,760 | $48,110 | ** | ** | ** |
| 36 | North Carolina profile | $22.06 | $45,890 | $37,700 | $59,760 | 180 | 0.04 | 0.58 |
| 37 | Missouri profile | $21.47 | $44,650 | $35,440 | $48,520 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.35 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (53-7070), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-7072 Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-7072, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-7072.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.