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
- -0.1%
- 2024→2025
- $98,170
- Top 10% earn
- -4.7%
- Growth '24–'34
- 17,990
- Estimated US jobs
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 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is North Dakota ($79,820).
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 2034.
- $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.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Wellhead Pumpers moved from $55,040 in May 2019 to $69,960 in May 2025 (+27.1%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Wellhead Pumpers sits +2.7 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Wellhead Pumpers (SOC 53-7073) has a national median of $69,960 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $44,100 to $98,170, and the published mean is $70,370. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 17,990 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 19 state or territory areas and 46 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $70,010 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $69,960 in May 2025, a fall of $50 (-0.1%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -4.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 2,000 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry and less than 5 years as the typical related-work-experience category, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Transportation and Material Moving Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
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 highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX at $79,720. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
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.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 (this entry) | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$69,960 · 62nd percentile of 825 US occupations
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).
Read the chart as text
- Laborers and Freight…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.5%, Median annual wage $40240
- Stockers and Order F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.5%, Median annual wage $37330
- Heavy and Tractor-Tr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $58640
- Light Truck Drivers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $44860
- Industrial Truck and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.1%, Median annual wage $46420
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $62890
- Packers and Packager…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.4%, Median annual wage $36280
- Driver/Sales Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.8%, Median annual wage $38770
- Bus Drivers, School: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $47920
- Cleaners of Vehicles…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $35830
- Shuttle Drivers and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $37290
- Bus Drivers, Transit…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $59050
- Refuse and Recyclabl…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.9%, Median annual wage $49690
- Parking Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $35150
- Flight Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.2%, Median annual wage $63580
- Airline Pilots, Copi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $232140
- Automotive and Water…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1%, Median annual wage $35670
- Commercial Pilots: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $123220
- Motor Vehicle Operat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6%, Median annual wage $37180
- Railroad Conductors …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.1%, Median annual wage $78000
- Crane and Tower Oper…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $68080
- Machine Feeders and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -13%, Median annual wage $41220
- Taxi Drivers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.1%, Median annual wage $42100
- Captains, Mates, and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $92460
- Wellhead Pumpers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.7%, Median annual wage $69960
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)
Employment Change
-900
18,800 (2024) → 17,900 (2034)
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 →Transportation and Material Moving Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
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
Wellhead Pumpers pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $46,990 |
| 2016 | $49,610 |
| 2017 | $52,260 |
| 2018 | $53,490 |
| 2019 | $55,040 |
| 2020 | $60,720 |
| 2021 | $63,740 |
| 2022 | $63,280 |
| 2023 | $71,830 |
| 2024 | $70,010 |
| 2025 | $69,960 |
2015 median
$46,990
2025 median
$69,960
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$14,920 (+27.1%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+4.1%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $46,990 | First banked release | 12,860 |
| May 2016 | $49,610 | +5.6% | 11,610 |
| May 2017 | $52,260 | +5.3% | 11,200 |
| May 2018 | $53,490 | +2.4% | 13,280 |
| May 2019 | $55,040 | Classification break | 12,970 |
| May 2020 | $60,720 | +10.3% | 12,050 |
| May 2021 | $63,740 | +5.0% | 16,040 |
| May 2022 | $63,280 | -0.7% | 14,550 |
| May 2023 | $71,830 | +13.5% | 18,230 |
| May 2024 | $70,010 | -2.5% | 17,350 |
| May 2025 | $69,960 | -0.1% | 17,990 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $46,990 in May 2015 to $69,960 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.1% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 12,970 in May 2019 to 17,990 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
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 24 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,720 | +14% above national |
| 2 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $78,010 | +12% above national |
| 3 | Minot, ND | $77,310 | +11% above national |
| 4 | Amarillo, TX | $77,150 | +10% above national |
| 5 | Lubbock, TX | $76,850 | +10% above national |
| 6 | Odessa, TX | $75,450 | +8% above national |
| 7 | Midland, TX | $72,110 | +3% above national |
| 8 | Casper, WY | $71,540 | +2% above national |
| 9 | Tyler, TX | $70,590 | +1% above national |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $64,960 | 7% below national |
| 11 | Longview, TX | $64,920 | 7% below national |
| 12 | Tulsa, OK | $64,500 | 8% below national |
| 13 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $64,010 | 9% below national |
| 14 | Wichita Falls, TX | $63,530 | 9% below national |
| 15 | Farmington, NM | $63,230 | 10% below national |
| 16 | Greeley, CO | $61,510 | 12% below national |
| 17 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $61,340 | 12% below national |
| 18 | San Angelo, TX | $60,900 | 13% below national |
| 19 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $60,510 | 14% below national |
| 20 | Akron, OH | $56,190 | 20% below national |
| 21 | Charleston, WV | $53,390 | 24% below national |
| 22 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $50,770 | 27% below national |
| 23 | Wichita, KS | $49,720 | 29% below national |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $39,060 | 44% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 53 (Transportation and Material Moving Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Air Traffic Controllers
SOC 53-2021
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
SOC 53-1041
Aircraft Service Attendants
SOC 53-6032
Airfield Operations Specialists
SOC 53-2022
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
SOC 53-2011
Showing 5 of 49 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Transportation and Material Moving Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($69,960 here) and reported employment (17,990 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Wellhead Pumpers make? ▼
Where does Wellhead Pumpers pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Wellhead Pumpers the most? ▼
What education do Wellhead Pumpers need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Wellhead Pumpers? ▼
Is Wellhead Pumpers a good career? ▼
How does Wellhead Pumpers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Wellhead Pumpers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Wellhead Pumpers pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $82,200/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. 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.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
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.