Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in North Carolina
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers in North Carolina earn a median of $45,890 a year ($22.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,760 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $61,770. North Carolina ranks 36th of 37 states for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers pay. There are 0.04 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $46,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,700 | $18.12 |
| 25th percentile | $40,390 | $19.42 |
| Median | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| 75th percentile | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,760 | $28.73 |
| Average (mean) | $46,260 | $22.24 |
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 | $3,824.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,912.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,765 |
| Weekly | $882.50 |
| Hourly | $22.06 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $66,920 | 60 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Carolina is $45,890 a year, or $22.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Carolina earn at least $59,760 a year. The top 25% earn $47,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,700 a year, and a quarter of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers earn $40,390 or less.
How many pump operators, except wellhead pumpers work in North Carolina?
About 180 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.