# Wellhead Pumpers

> Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wellhead-pumpers
- SOC code: 53-7073.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $69,960 (10th percentile $44,100, 90th percentile $98,170)
- Projected growth: Decline, -2.0%
- Openings a year: 1,700
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 99 |
| Investigative (I) | 21 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 13 |
| Conventional (C) | 55 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 84/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 82/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 78/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 78/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 77/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 77/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 74/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 73/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 71/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Equipment Maintenance, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Complex Problem Solving, Speaking

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Mathematics, Administrative, Chemistry, Production and Processing, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Design

## Also called

Field Operator, Gas Lease Pumper, Gas Well Pumper, Lease Attendant, Lease Operator, Oil Field Operator, Oil Field Plant Operator, Oil Field Pumper, Oil Field Technician, Oil Field Worker

## Related careers

- [Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/petroleum-pump-system-operators-refinery-operators-and-gaugers): $96,710 median pay
- [Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pump-operators-except-wellhead-pumpers): $61,770 median pay
- [Gas Plant Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gas-plant-operators): $87,820 median pay
- [Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rotary-drill-operators-oil-and-gas): $67,890 median pay
- [Roustabouts, Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/roustabouts-oil-and-gas): $46,960 median pay
- [Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gas-compressor-and-gas-pumping-station-operators): $77,320 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.