Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$61,770
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$29.70
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$91,820
entry level starts ~$39,420
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 10,000 employed

How much does a Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers make?

A Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers earns a median annual salary of $61,770 in the United States, which works out to roughly $29.70 per hour for full-time work. Most Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers earn between $39,420 at the entry level and $91,820 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $47,560 and $77,210 a year.

That is $380 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary range by percentile

Half of all Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers earn between $47,560 and $77,210 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$39,420$18.95
25th percentile (early career)$47,560$22.87
50th percentile (median)$61,770$29.70
75th percentile (experienced)$77,210$37.12
90th percentile (top earners)$91,820$44.14

Highest-paying states for Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Illinois leads the country for Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers pay at $92,310 a year, followed by North Dakota ($81,400) and Alaska ($80,210). At the other end, Missouri posts the lowest median at $44,650 — a gap of $47,660 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Illinois$92,310$44.38+49%
2North Dakota$81,400$39.13+32%
3Alaska$80,210$38.56+30%
4Wyoming$77,820$37.41+26%
5Connecticut$71,890$34.56+16%

Workforce and education

About 10,000 people work as Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $63,960 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers make in the United States?
The median Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in the United States is $61,770 per year, or about $29.70 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $39,420, while the top 10% of earners make $91,820 or more.
How does Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers median of $61,770 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers the most?
Illinois is the highest-paying state for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers, with a median salary of $92,310 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers?
Becoming a Pump Operator, Except Wellhead Pumpers typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers work in the United States?
About 10,000 people were employed as Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.