Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in Virginia
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers in Virginia earn a median of $66,500 a year ($31.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,400 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $61,770. Virginia ranks 9th 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 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $65,020, close to the median.
Pay range for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,090 | $25.52 |
| 25th percentile | $62,220 | $29.91 |
| Median | $66,500 | $31.97 |
| 75th percentile | $66,920 | $32.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,400 | $36.25 |
| Average (mean) | $65,020 | $31.26 |
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 | $5,541.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,770.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,557.69 |
| Weekly | $1,278.85 |
| Hourly | $31.97 |
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 Virginia
| 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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,380 | $18.94 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $66,600 | $32.02 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,840 | $19.15 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $49,770 | $23.93 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $41,190 | $19.81 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,860 | $27.34 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Virginia is $66,500 a year, or $31.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Virginia earn at least $75,400 a year. The top 25% earn $66,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,090 a year, and a quarter of pump operators, except wellhead pumpers earn $62,220 or less.
How many pump operators, except wellhead pumpers work in Virginia?
About 150 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.