Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for pump operators, except wellhead pumperss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Illinois$90,400
- Alaska$80,530
- Wyoming$74,530
- North Dakota$74,500
- Washington$74,450
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Missouri$45,390
- North Carolina$46,260
- Tennessee$48,060
- Nebraska$48,830
- Oklahoma$50,460
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $90,400 | $92,310 | $43 | +41.3% | 50 |
| 2 | Alaska | $80,530 | $80,210 | $39 | +25.9% | 120 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $74,530 | $77,820 | $36 | +16.5% | 290 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $74,500 | $81,400 | $36 | +16.5% | 70 |
| 5 | Washington | $74,450 | $57,030 | $36 | +16.4% | 80 |
| 6 | Michigan | $74,430 | $69,540 | $36 | +16.4% | 40 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $73,950 | $64,990 | $36 | +15.6% | 310 |
| 8 | Montana | $71,720 | $71,770 | $34 | +12.1% | 50 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $69,780 | $60,320 | $34 | +9.1% | 70 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $69,060 | $59,700 | $33 | +8% | 60 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $68,140 | $61,450 | $33 | +6.5% | — |
| 12 | Ohio | $67,940 | $64,700 | $33 | +6.2% | 150 |
| 13 | Utah | $67,520 | $61,590 | $32 | +5.6% | 250 |
| 14 | Idaho | $67,420 | $60,200 | $32 | +5.4% | — |
| 15 | Texas | $67,330 | $61,770 | $32 | +5.3% | 2,110 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $67,090 | $71,890 | $32 | +4.9% | 30 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $65,060 | $64,110 | $31 | +1.7% | 1,370 |
| 18 | Virginia | $65,020 | $66,500 | $31 | +1.7% | 150 |
| 19 | Alabama | $64,200 | $66,890 | $31 | +0.4% | 100 |
| 20 | Nevada | $63,610 | $57,980 | $31 | -0.5% | 150 |
| 21 | Maine | $62,440 | $51,370 | $30 | -2.4% | — |
| 22 | New Mexico | $61,940 | $58,920 | $30 | -3.2% | 80 |
| 23 | Georgia | $61,890 | $64,050 | $30 | -3.2% | 130 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $61,450 | $60,660 | $30 | -3.9% | 190 |
| 25 | California | $60,560 | $57,660 | $29 | -5.3% | 1,220 |
| 26 | Indiana | $60,520 | $60,620 | $29 | -5.4% | — |
| 27 | Oregon | $59,940 | $54,540 | $29 | -6.3% | 630 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $58,980 | $61,670 | $28 | -7.8% | 70 |
| 29 | Colorado | $58,850 | $46,680 | $28 | -8% | — |
| 30 | Florida | $57,040 | $59,120 | $27 | -10.8% | 510 |
| 31 | New York | $55,230 | $48,010 | $27 | -13.6% | 300 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $52,130 | $46,600 | $25 | -18.5% | 40 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $50,460 | $46,900 | $24 | -21.1% | 90 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $48,830 | $46,170 | $23 | -23.7% | — |
| 35 | Tennessee | $48,060 | $52,120 | $23 | -24.9% | 80 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $46,260 | $45,890 | $22 | -27.7% | 180 |
| 37 | Missouri | $45,390 | $44,650 | $22 | -29% | 70 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 45 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $98,800 | $88,980 | 40 |
| 2 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $82,090 | $82,830 | 90 |
| 3 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $81,400 | $74,680 | 70 |
| 4 | Baton Rouge, LA | $79,840 | $69,160 | 100 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $79,010 | $75,980 | 40 |
| 6 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $77,820 | $80,450 | — |
| 7 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $76,670 | $71,560 | 770 |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $75,810 | $76,690 | 60 |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $71,780 | $74,050 | 110 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $67,550 | $68,850 | 90 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing pump operators, except wellhead pumperss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other Pipeline Transportation | $91,450 | $84,140 | 140 |
| 2 | Warehousing and Storage | $83,390 | $85,830 | 150 |
| 3 | Warehousing and Storage | $83,390 | $85,830 | 150 |
| 4 | Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $80,090 | $80,460 | 700 |
| 5 | Chemical Manufacturing | $79,760 | $83,690 | 60 |
| 6 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $79,760 | $83,690 | 60 |
| 7 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $78,950 | $77,910 | 60 |
| 8 | Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing | $78,480 | $77,980 | 1,710 |
| 9 | Pipeline Transportation | $78,420 | $79,470 | 1,420 |
| 10 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $77,820 | $81,590 | 390 |
| 11 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $77,820 | $81,590 | 390 |
| 12 | Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $77,200 | $77,140 | 570 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in the U.S.?
The median pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary in the United States is $61,770 per year (mean $63,960), and about 80% earn between $39,420 and $91,820.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make per hour?
Roughly $31 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $63,960 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays pump operators, except wellhead pumpers the most?
Illinois has the highest average pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers at $90,400 per year (median $92,310).
What is the job outlook for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Employment is projected to change +2.6% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 1,500 openings per year.