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Wellhead Pumpers Salary
Wellhead Pumpers earn a median $69,960 a year in the U.S., with 17,990 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $69,960 a year
- Employment
- 17,990
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- -2.0%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 1,700
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $69,960 · $33.63 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $70,370 · $33.83 an hour (estimate error ±2.4%)
- 10th percentile
- $44,100 · $21.20 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $52,330 · $25.16 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $82,200 · $39.52 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $98,170 · $47.20 an hour
- Employment
- 17,990 (estimate error ±7.5%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 18,400
- Projected for 2035
- 18,000
- Change
- -400 (-2.0%)
- Openings each year
- 1,700
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $79,820 | 1,540 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $78,010 | 1,060 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $76,930 | 110 |
| 4 | Texas | $75,860 | 10,250 |
| 5 | Colorado | $72,700 | 370 |
| 6 | Arkansas | $64,650 | 90 |
| 7 | California | $64,430 | 160 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $62,560 | 80 |
| 9 | Kansas | $62,400 | 620 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $61,380 | 770 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 10,250 | $75,860 |
| North Dakota | 1,540 | $79,820 |
| New Mexico | 1,060 | $78,010 |
| Oklahoma | 770 | $61,380 |
| West Virginia | 660 | $52,170 |
| Pennsylvania | 640 | $45,490 |
| Kansas | 620 | $62,400 |
| Wyoming | 490 | $57,200 |
| Colorado | 370 | $72,700 |
| Ohio | 250 | $46,750 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,720 | 3,860 |
| 2 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $78,010 | 830 |
| 3 | Minot, ND | $77,310 | 130 |
| 4 | Lubbock, TX | $76,850 | 200 |
| 5 | Odessa, TX | $75,450 | 330 |
| 6 | Midland, TX | $72,110 | 1,660 |
| 7 | Oklahoma City, OK | $64,960 | 230 |
| 8 | Longview, TX | $64,920 | 150 |
| 9 | Tulsa, OK | $64,500 | 220 |
| 10 | Greeley, CO | $61,510 | 140 |
| 11 | San Angelo, TX | $60,900 | 150 |
| 12 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $60,510 | 170 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 3,860 | $79,720 |
| Midland, TX | 1,660 | $72,110 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 830 | $78,010 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 350 | $39,060 |
| Odessa, TX | 330 | $75,450 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 230 | $64,960 |
| Tulsa, OK | 220 | $64,500 |
| Lubbock, TX | 200 | $76,850 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 170 | $60,510 |
| Longview, TX | 150 | $64,920 |
| San Angelo, TX | 150 | $60,900 |
| Greeley, CO | 140 | $61,510 |
Wellhead Pumpers pay by state
Related occupations
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders
- Crane and Tower Operators
- Dredge Operators
- Hoist and Winch Operators
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Packers and Packagers, Hand
- Stockers and Order Fillers
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Frequently asked questions
- How much do wellhead pumpers make?
- The median wage for wellhead pumpers in the U.S. is $69,960 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,330 and $82,200.
- Which state pays wellhead pumpers the most?
- North Dakota has the highest median wage for this occupation at $79,820 a year.
- What is the job outlook for wellhead pumpers?
- BLS projects employment to decline 2.0% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,700 openings each year on average.
- What education do wellhead pumpers need?
- The typical entry-level education is: high school diploma or equivalent.