Life As a Wellhead Pumper

Wellhead Pumper Job Description Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.

Life As a Wellhead Pumper: What Do They Do?

• Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks.
• Open valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize them and force oil to surface.
• Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.
• Mix acids, chemicals, or dry cement as required for a specific job.
• Control pumping and blending equipment to acidize, cement, or fracture gas or oil wells and permeable rock formations.
• Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil.

Things a Wellhead Pumper Should Know How to Do

Wellhead Pumpers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Types of Wellhead Pumper Jobs

• Oil Field Pumper
• Multi-Skilled Operator
• Gauger
• Wellhead Pumper
• Oil Field Worker

Wellhead Pumper Employment Estimates

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 11,500 jobs in the United States for Wellhead Pumper. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 21.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,500 new jobs for Wellhead Pumper by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,800 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Wellhead Pumper are North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Montana, or Michigan. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Wellhead Pumper

The average yearly salary of a Wellhead Pumper ranges between $31,280 and $79,930.

Wellhead Pumpers who work in Colorado, Wyoming, or Montana, make the highest salaries.

How much do Wellhead Pumpers make in different U.S. states?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Arkansas	$57,940
California	$47,940
Colorado	$69,130
Illinois	$33,730
Kansas	$47,390
Kentucky	$62,670
Louisiana	$47,300
Michigan	$50,590
Mississippi	$58,480
Montana	$61,020
New Mexico	$55,210
North Dakota	$59,030
Ohio	$39,860
Oklahoma	$51,900
Pennsylvania	$42,300
Texas	$54,690
Utah	$60,010
West Virginia	$42,230
Wyoming	$63,120

What Tools do Wellhead Pumpers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Wellhead Pumpers may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Outlook
• Data entry software
• Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
• SAP software

Becoming a Wellhead Pumper

What education or degrees do I need to become a Wellhead Pumper?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Wellhead Pumpers Sector

Below are examples of industries where Wellhead Pumpers work:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those thinking about becoming a Wellhead Pumper might also be interested in the following careers:

• Semiconductor Processors
• Riggers

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

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More about our data sources and methodologies.