Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in North Dakota
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers in North Dakota earn a median of $81,400 a year ($39.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,830 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $61,770. North Dakota ranks 2nd of 37 states for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.17 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $74,500, close to the median.
Pay range for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| 25th percentile | $57,200 | $27.50 |
| Median | $81,400 | $39.14 |
| 75th percentile | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,830 | $48.48 |
| Average (mean) | $74,500 | $35.82 |
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 | $6,783.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,391.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,130.77 |
| Weekly | $1,565.38 |
| Hourly | $39.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $79,820 | $38.38 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,260 | $23.68 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $31,440 | $15.11 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $59,000 | $28.37 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $47,770 | $22.96 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,910 | $29.29 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,070 | $31.28 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,610 | $18.56 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Dakota
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 Dakota?
The median salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Dakota is $81,400 a year, or $39.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in North Dakota?
The top 10% of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Dakota earn at least $100,830 a year. The top 25% earn $87,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,920 a year, and a quarter of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers earn $57,200 or less.
How many pump operators, except wellhead pumpers work in North Dakota?
About 70 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers are employed in North Dakota, not counting the self-employed.