Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in the U.S.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers in the U.S. earn a median of $61,770 a year ($29.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,820 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $63,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| 25th percentile | $47,560 | $22.86 |
| Median | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| 75th percentile | $77,210 | $37.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,820 | $44.14 |
| Average (mean) | $63,960 | $30.75 |
Half of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,147.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,573.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,375.77 |
| Weekly | $1,187.88 |
| Hourly | $29.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $92,310 | 50 |
| North Dakota | $81,400 | 70 |
| Alaska | $80,210 | 120 |
| Wyoming | $77,820 | 290 |
| Connecticut | $71,890 | 30 |
| Montana | $71,770 | 50 |
| Michigan | $69,540 | 40 |
| Alabama | $66,890 | 100 |
| Virginia | $66,500 | 150 |
| New Jersey | $64,990 | 310 |
| Ohio | $64,700 | 150 |
| Louisiana | $64,110 | 1,370 |
| Georgia | $64,050 | 130 |
| Texas | $61,770 | 2,110 |
| Mississippi | $61,670 | 70 |
| Utah | $61,590 | 250 |
| West Virginia | $61,450 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $60,660 | 190 |
| Indiana | $60,620 | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $60,320 | 70 |
| Idaho | $60,200 | n/a |
| Minnesota | $59,700 | 60 |
| Florida | $59,120 | 510 |
| New Mexico | $58,920 | 80 |
| Nevada | $57,980 | 150 |
| California | $57,660 | 1,220 |
| Washington | $57,030 | 80 |
| Oregon | $54,540 | 630 |
| Tennessee | $52,120 | 80 |
| Maine | $51,370 | n/a |
| New York | $48,010 | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $46,900 | 90 |
| Colorado | $46,680 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $46,600 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $46,170 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $45,890 | 180 |
| Missouri | $44,650 | 70 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,370 | 90 |
Best-paying metro areas for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $82,090 | 90 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $79,840 | 100 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $79,010 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $76,670 | 770 |
| Anchorage, AK | $75,810 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $71,780 | 110 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $67,550 | 90 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $66,920 | 60 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $64,220 | 100 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $64,050 | 120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,540 | 410 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $63,480 | 300 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $63,110 | 210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $63,060 | 250 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $62,820 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 770 | $76,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 410 | $63,540 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 300 | $63,480 |
| Midland, TX | 270 | $54,800 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 250 | $63,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 210 | $63,110 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 120 | $64,050 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 120 | $38,360 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 110 | $52,980 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 110 | $71,780 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 100 | $79,840 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 100 | $64,220 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 90 | $82,090 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 90 | $67,550 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 90 | $53,980 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $41,220 | $19.82 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $69,960 | $33.63 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $77,320 | $37.17 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $56,450 | $27.14 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7072. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in the U.S. is $61,770 a year, or $29.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in the U.S. earn at least $91,820 a year. The top 25% earn $77,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,420 a year, and a quarter of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers earn $47,560 or less.
How many pump operators, except wellhead pumpers work in the U.S.?
About 9,780 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.