SOC 53-7072.00

    Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

    Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.

    Median pay
    $61,770
    Growth
    +4.3%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    1,000
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

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    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $39,420
    Median
    $61,770
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $91,820
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    9,780 people work in this occupation.

    What pump operators, except wellhead pumpers do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    95 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    21 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    5 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    8 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    58 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    98
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    90
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    87
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    85
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    83
    Getting Information
    81
    Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    81
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    78
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    76
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    75
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operations Monitoring
    • Monitoring
    • Operation and Control
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Time Management
    • Troubleshooting

    Knowledge

    • Production and Processing
    • English Language
    • Mechanical
    • Mathematics
    • Administration and Management
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Administrative
    • Education and Training

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Perceptual Speed
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Oral Expression
    • Control Precision
    • Information Ordering
    • Written Expression
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Deductive Reasoning

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Attention to Detail
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Self-Control
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Adaptability
    • Perseverance
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    Acid Loader · Acid Pump Operator · Airveyor Operator · Boom Pump Operator · Booster Station Operator · Brewery Pumper · Caustic Pump Operator · Chemical Pumper · Concrete Boom Pump Operator · Concrete Operator

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What pump operators, except wellhead pumpers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

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    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.