Wellhead Pumpers
SOC code 53-7073 · O*NET-SOC 53-7073.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Transportation
Wellhead Pumpers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$69,960
a year
Hourly
$33.63
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$70,370
$33.83 per hour
Middle 50%
$52,330 – $82,200
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$44,100 – $98,170
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
17,990
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $44,100
- $21.20/hr
- 25th percentile
- $52,330
- $25.16/hr
- Median percentile
- $69,960
- $33.63/hr
- 75th percentile
- $82,200
- $39.52/hr
- 90th percentile
- $98,170
- $47.20/hr
What does a wellhead pumper do?
Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a wellhead pumper
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 80% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)80%
- Post-Secondary Certificate11%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree7%
- Less than a High School Diploma1%
Common questions
How much does a wellhead pumper earn?
The national median is $69,960 a year. The full range runs from $44,100 at the 10th percentile to $98,170 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a wellhead pumper without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Speaking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical3.7/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Administrative2.9/5
- Chemistry2.8/5
- Production and Processing2.8/5
- English Language2.7/5
- Public Safety and Security2.6/5
- Computers and Electronics2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Judgment and Decision Making.