Wellhead pumpers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $69,960 | $33.63 |
| Mean (average) | $70,370 | $33.83 |
| 90th percentile | $98,170 | $47.20 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Wellhead pumpers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 19 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $64,650 | $30,830 | $76,020 | 90 | 0.61 |
| California | $64,430 | $50,180 | $76,330 | 160 | 0.08 |
| Colorado | $72,700 | $50,220 | $93,790 | 370 | 1.11 |
| Illinois | $51,440 | $36,770 | $63,770 | 240 | 0.34 |
| Kansas | $62,400 | $43,960 | $101,500 | 620 | 3.7 |
| Louisiana | $76,930 | $57,210 | $80,290 | 110 | 0.48 |
| Michigan | $47,630 | $43,450 | $83,720 | 210 | 0.41 |
| Mississippi | $62,560 | $52,600 | $78,470 | 80 | 0.57 |
| Montana | $57,830 | $46,200 | $93,170 | 90 | 1.53 |
| New Mexico | $78,010 | $48,240 | $98,810 | 1,060 | 10.49 |
| New York | $48,980 | $39,710 | $69,590 | 50 | 0.04 |
| North Dakota | $79,820 | $61,530 | $98,570 | 1,540 | 30.98 |
| Ohio | $46,750 | $35,110 | $70,530 | 250 | 0.39 |
| Oklahoma | $61,380 | $46,230 | $75,690 | 770 | 3.9 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,490 | $38,340 | $68,810 | 640 | 0.91 |
| Texas | $75,860 | $45,090 | $97,640 | 10,250 | 6.3 |
| Utah | $59,970 | $49,660 | $79,040 | 130 | 0.63 |
| West Virginia | $52,170 | $36,900 | $74,600 | 660 | 8.17 |
| Wyoming | $57,200 | $47,760 | $92,060 | 490 | 15.03 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for wellhead pumpers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for wellhead pumpers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks.
- Gauge oil and gas production.
- Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil.
- Monitor control panels during pumping operations to ensure that materials are being pumped at the correct pressure, density, rate, and concentration.
- Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks.
- Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.
- Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Moxa software
- Operational databases
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Field Operator, Lease Attendant, Lease Operator, Oilfield Plant Operator, Pumper, Well Field Technician, Well Head Pumper, Well Tender, Wellhead Pumper.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do wellhead pumpers make?
The national median annual wage for wellhead pumpers was $69,960 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,100 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $98,170. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do wellhead pumpers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is wellhead pumpers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of wellhead pumpers to change -2.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay wellhead pumpers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were North Dakota ($79,820), New Mexico ($78,010), Louisiana ($76,930). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.