SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 53-7073.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $44,100 | $3,675 | $848 | $21.20 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $52,330 | $4,361 | $1,006 | $25.16 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $69,960 | $5,830 | $1,345 | $33.63 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $82,200 | $6,850 | $1,581 | $39.52 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $98,170 | $8,181 | $1,888 | $47.20 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Wellhead Pumpers is $69,960, which is 37% higher. Among the 50 occupations of the field Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks number 11 by median pay. With 17,990 jobs, it makes up about 1.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Wellhead Pumpers pay by state
The highest median pay was in North Dakota ($79,820), New Mexico ($78,010) and Louisiana ($76,930). The lowest was in Pennsylvania ($45,490), Ohio ($46,750) and Michigan ($47,630). The most jobs were in Texas (10,250), North Dakota (1,540) and New Mexico (1,060). The occupation is most concentrated in North Dakota, where its share of all jobs is 31.0 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 1,540 | $79,820 | $82,190 | $38.38 |
| New Mexico | 1,060 | $78,010 | $78,290 | $37.50 |
| Louisiana | 110 | $76,930 | $72,610 | $36.99 |
| Texas | 10,250 | $75,860 | $73,110 | $36.47 |
| Colorado | 370 | $72,700 | $72,130 | $34.95 |
| Arkansas | 90 | $64,650 | $58,000 | $31.08 |
| California | 160 | $64,430 | $65,580 | $30.98 |
| Mississippi | 80 | $62,560 | $65,730 | $30.08 |
| Kansas | 620 | $62,400 | $66,620 | $30.00 |
| Oklahoma | 770 | $61,380 | $61,520 | $29.51 |
| Utah | 130 | $59,970 | $64,000 | $28.83 |
| Montana | 90 | $57,830 | $63,560 | $27.80 |
| Wyoming | 490 | $57,200 | $65,820 | $27.50 |
| West Virginia | 660 | $52,170 | $51,210 | $25.08 |
| Illinois | 240 | $51,440 | $54,750 | $24.73 |
| New York | 50 | $48,980 | $53,430 | $23.55 |
| Michigan | 210 | $47,630 | $56,460 | $22.90 |
| Ohio | 250 | $46,750 | $50,470 | $22.47 |
| Pennsylvania | 640 | $45,490 | $48,190 | $21.87 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Locomotive Engineers$81,410 a year
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$78,000 a year
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators$77,320 a year
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers$68,840 a year
- Crane and Tower Operators$68,080 a year
- Flight Attendants$63,580 a year
Common questions
How much do Wellhead Pumpers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $69,960 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,100 and the highest-paid 10% more than $98,170.
How many people work as Wellhead Pumpers?
About 17,990 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.