Wellhead Pumpers: Career Overview
Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Wellhead Pumpers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of wellhead pumpers cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top wellhead pumpers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Field Operator
- Gas Lease Pumper
- Gas Well Pumper
- Lease Attendant
- Lease Operator
- Oil Field Operator
- Oil Field Plant Operator
- Oil Field Pumper
How Many Wellhead Pumpers Are There?
There are roughly 770,074 wellhead pumpers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -4.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Wellhead Pumpers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $43,101 |
| Hourly median | $20.72 |
| 10th percentile | $29,646 |
| 25th percentile | $36,374 |
| 75th percentile | $49,829 |
| 90th percentile | $56,557 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Wellhead Pumpers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $83,450 |
| Arkansas | $80,930 |
| Wyoming | $77,790 |
| Louisiana | $75,690 |
| Texas | $75,590 |
| New Mexico | $68,220 |
| Utah | $66,890 |
| Oklahoma | $63,790 |
| Montana | $61,780 |
| Colorado | $61,170 |
| Ohio | $60,730 |
| Kansas | $60,560 |
| California | $60,220 |
| Illinois | $59,580 |
| Michigan | $55,090 |
| Mississippi | $51,660 |
| West Virginia | $48,780 |
| New York | $44,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,550 |
| Kentucky | $36,860 |
Where Wellhead Pumpers Earn the Most
Pay for wellhead pumpers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains States | $75,126 | 8.4% | 13.32 |
| Southwest | $74,311 | 68.7% | 7.03 |
| Rocky Mountains | $68,372 | 6.5% | 5.74 |
| Far Western US | $60,220 | 1.1% | 0.09 |
| Great Lakes | $58,960 | 4.8% | 0.46 |
| Southeast | $55,035 | 6.7% | 6.26 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,027 | 3.8% | 0.81 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | TX | $79,640 | 1,470 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $78,290 | 3,940 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $78,230 | 920 |
| Casper, WY | WY | $77,260 | 100 |
| San Angelo, TX | TX | $73,370 | 90 |
| Tyler, TX | TX | $69,340 | 80 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | TX | $66,670 | 110 |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $65,860 |
Top Industries Employing Wellhead Pumpers
Most wellhead pumpers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 16,730 | $70,010 |
| Utilities | 130 | $64,440 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 80 | $98,920 |
Below are examples of industries where wellhead pumpers work:
Software Wellhead Pumpers Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for wellhead pumpers reflects the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Telephone Conversations
Getting Started in This Career
Most wellhead pumpers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Petroleum Engineers (Supplemental)
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (Primary-Short)
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas (Primary-Long)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (Primary-Short)
- Geothermal Technicians (Supplemental)
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-7073.00 (Wellhead Pumpers).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.