Wellhead Pumpers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for 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
- North Dakota$82,190
- New Mexico$78,290
- Texas$73,110
- Louisiana$72,610
- Colorado$72,130
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Pennsylvania$48,190
- Ohio$50,470
- West Virginia$51,210
- New York$53,430
- Illinois$54,750
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $82,190 | $79,820 | $40 | +16.8% | 1,540 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $78,290 | $78,010 | $38 | +11.3% | 1,060 |
| 3 | Texas | $73,110 | $75,860 | $35 | +3.9% | 10,250 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $72,610 | $76,930 | $35 | +3.2% | 110 |
| 5 | Colorado | $72,130 | $72,700 | $35 | +2.5% | 370 |
| 6 | Kansas | $66,620 | $62,400 | $32 | -5.3% | 620 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $65,820 | $57,200 | $32 | -6.5% | 490 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $65,730 | $62,560 | $32 | -6.6% | 80 |
| 9 | California | $65,580 | $64,430 | $32 | -6.8% | 160 |
| 10 | Utah | $64,000 | $59,970 | $31 | -9.1% | 130 |
| 11 | Montana | $63,560 | $57,830 | $31 | -9.7% | 90 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $61,520 | $61,380 | $30 | -12.6% | 770 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $58,000 | $64,650 | $28 | -17.6% | 90 |
| 14 | Michigan | $56,460 | $47,630 | $27 | -19.8% | 210 |
| 15 | Illinois | $54,750 | $51,440 | $26 | -22.2% | 240 |
| 16 | New York | $53,430 | $48,980 | $26 | -24.1% | 50 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $51,210 | $52,170 | $25 | -27.2% | 660 |
| 18 | Ohio | $50,470 | $46,750 | $24 | -28.3% | 250 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $48,190 | $45,490 | $23 | -31.5% | 640 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 47 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $81,490 | $78,880 | 960 |
| 2 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $80,110 | $83,220 | 1,330 |
| 3 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,720 | $78,580 | 3,860 |
| 4 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $78,010 | $80,960 | 830 |
| 5 | Minot, ND | $77,310 | $77,670 | 130 |
| 6 | Amarillo, TX | $77,150 | $70,570 | 60 |
| 7 | Lubbock, TX | $76,850 | $71,870 | 200 |
| 8 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $75,650 | $70,990 | 830 |
| 9 | Odessa, TX | $75,450 | $71,070 | 330 |
| 10 | Midland, TX | $72,110 | $69,110 | 1,660 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing wellhead pumperss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pipeline Transportation | $96,120 | $90,180 | 50 |
| 2 | Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $96,120 | $90,180 | 50 |
| 3 | Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing | $96,120 | $90,180 | 50 |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $77,310 | $69,030 | — |
| 5 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $77,310 | $69,030 | — |
| 6 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $76,170 | $74,750 | 12,190 |
| 7 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $76,170 | $74,750 | 12,190 |
| 8 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $69,960 | $70,370 | 17,990 |
| 9 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $69,960 | $70,370 | 17,990 |
| 10 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $69,150 | $70,410 | 17,380 |
| 11 | Natural Gas Distribution | $62,760 | $60,040 | 50 |
| 12 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $62,080 | $63,480 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do wellhead pumpers make in the U.S.?
The median wellhead pumpers salary in the United States is $69,960 per year (mean $70,370), and about 80% earn between $44,100 and $98,170.
How much do wellhead pumpers make per hour?
Roughly $34 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $70,370 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays wellhead pumpers the most?
North Dakota has the highest average pay for wellhead pumpers at $82,190 per year (median $79,820).
What is the job outlook for wellhead pumpers?
Employment is projected to change -4.7% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 2,000 openings per year.