53 Series · SOC 53-7073
Wellhead Pumpers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $69,960
- Median / year
- $98,170
- Top 10% earn
- -4.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 17,990
- US workers
Wellhead Pumpers earn a median of $69,960 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $69,960, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $44,100 (10th percentile) to $98,170 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 17,990 US workers. North Dakota pays the most ($79,820), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Wellhead Pumpers earn a median of $69,960, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 62% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #11 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 4.7% by 2033.
- $69,960
- Median annual wage
- Top 38%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #11 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: North Dakota at $79,820. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Wellhead Pumpers (SOC 53-7073) pays a national median of $69,960 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $44,100 at the 10th percentile to $98,170 at the 90th, with a mean of $70,370 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 17,990 Americans work in this occupation across 19 reporting states and 46 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -4.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 4.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. North Dakota pays the highest state median at $79,820, which is +14% above the national figure. The top metro is Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area at $81,490 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$69,960
per year
Median Hourly
$33.63/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$70,370
average
Employment
17,990
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Wellhead Pumpers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$69,960 Top 38% higher than 62% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Wellhead Pumpers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 53-series occupations with growth data, Wellhead Pumpers sits on the slower-growing side at -4.7% growth and $69,960 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-4.7%
Declining
Annual Openings
2,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
17.5/100K
Injury Rate
4.8/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Wellhead Pumpers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Open valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize them and force oil to surface.
- ▸ Change water filters.
- ▸ Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.
- ▸ Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required.
- ▸ Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$44,100
25th Percentile
$52,330
Median
$69,960
75th Percentile
$82,200
90th Percentile
$98,170
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 19 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $79,820 | +14% above national |
| 2 | New Mexico | $78,010 | +12% above national |
| 3 | Louisiana | $76,930 | +10% above national |
| 4 | Texas | $75,860 | +8% above national |
| 5 | Colorado | $72,700 | +4% above national |
| 6 | Arkansas | $64,650 | 8% below national |
| 7 | California | $64,430 | 8% below national |
| 8 | Mississippi | $62,560 | 11% below national |
| 9 | Kansas | $62,400 | 11% below national |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $61,380 | 12% below national |
| 11 | Utah | $59,970 | 14% below national |
| 12 | Montana | $57,830 | 17% below national |
| 13 | Wyoming | $57,200 | 18% below national |
| 14 | West Virginia | $52,170 | 25% below national |
| 15 | Illinois | $51,440 | 26% below national |
| 16 | New York | $48,980 | 30% below national |
| 17 | Michigan | $47,630 | 32% below national |
| 18 | Ohio | $46,750 | 33% below national |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $45,490 | 35% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 46 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $81,490 | +16% above national |
| 2 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $80,110 | +15% above national |
| 3 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,720 | +14% above national |
| 4 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $78,010 | +12% above national |
| 5 | Minot, ND | $77,310 | +11% above national |
| 6 | Amarillo, TX | $77,150 | +10% above national |
| 7 | Lubbock, TX | $76,850 | +10% above national |
| 8 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $75,650 | +8% above national |
| 9 | Odessa, TX | $75,450 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Midland, TX | $72,110 | +3% above national |
| 11 | Casper, WY | $71,540 | +2% above national |
| 12 | Tyler, TX | $70,590 | +1% above national |
| 13 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $64,990 | 7% below national |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $64,960 | 7% below national |
| 15 | Longview, TX | $64,920 | 7% below national |
| 16 | Tulsa, OK | $64,500 | 8% below national |
| 17 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $64,010 | 9% below national |
| 18 | Wichita Falls, TX | $63,530 | 9% below national |
| 19 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $63,370 | 9% below national |
| 20 | Farmington, NM | $63,230 | 10% below national |
| 21 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $62,550 | 11% below national |
| 22 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $61,570 | 12% below national |
| 23 | Greeley, CO | $61,510 | 12% below national |
| 24 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $61,340 | 12% below national |
| 25 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $60,930 | 13% below national |
| 26 | San Angelo, TX | $60,900 | 13% below national |
| 27 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $60,510 | 14% below national |
| 28 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $60,190 | 14% below national |
| 29 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $59,970 | 14% below national |
| 30 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $59,970 | 14% below national |
| 31 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $57,200 | 18% below national |
| 32 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $57,200 | 18% below national |
| 33 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $56,290 | 20% below national |
| 34 | Akron, OH | $56,190 | 20% below national |
| 35 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $54,380 | 22% below national |
| 36 | Charleston, WV | $53,390 | 24% below national |
| 37 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $52,170 | 25% below national |
| 38 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $51,440 | 26% below national |
| 39 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $50,770 | 27% below national |
| 40 | Wichita, KS | $49,720 | 29% below national |
| 41 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,850 | 30% below national |
| 42 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,600 | 33% below national |
| 43 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $46,260 | 34% below national |
| 44 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,140 | 35% below national |
| 45 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $44,560 | 36% below national |
| 46 | Pittsburgh, PA | $39,060 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Wellhead Pumpers make? ▼
What state pays Wellhead Pumpers the most? ▼
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Is Wellhead Pumpers a good career? ▼
How does Wellhead Pumpers pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Wellhead Pumpers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $82,200/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: North Dakota leads at $79,820/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.