Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in Kentucky
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers in Kentucky earn a median of $46,600 a year ($22.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,050 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $61,770. Kentucky ranks 34th of 37 states for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers pay. There are 0.02 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.32). The average (mean) salary is $52,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| 25th percentile | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Median | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| 75th percentile | $58,080 | $27.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,050 | $33.68 |
| Average (mean) | $52,130 | $25.06 |
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 | $3,883.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,941.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,792.31 |
| Weekly | $896.15 |
| Hourly | $22.40 |
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 in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $79,010 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $92,310 |
| North Dakota | $81,400 |
| Alaska | $80,210 |
| Wyoming | $77,820 |
| Connecticut | $71,890 |
| Montana | $71,770 |
| Michigan | $69,540 |
| Alabama | $66,890 |
| Virginia | $66,500 |
| New Jersey | $64,990 |
See Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $53,160 | $25.56 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Kentucky is $46,600 a year, or $22.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Kentucky earn at least $70,050 a year. The top 25% earn $58,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,130 a year, and a quarter of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers earn $38,130 or less.
How many pump operators, except wellhead pumpers work in Kentucky?
About 40 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.