Wellhead Pumpers
Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.
Also called: Field Operator · Lease Attendant · Lease Operator · Oilfield Plant Operator · Pumper · Well Field Technician
Median pay (national)
$70,010
$39,110–$97,470 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
17,350
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-4.7%
~2,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for wellhead pumpers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $97,470 versus $39,110 at the bottom 10% — 2.5x. The median of $70,010 leaves roughly 39% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -4.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 2,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 20 states with released data, North Dakota pays the most for this role (median $83,450, +19% vs the national median), while Kentucky sits lowest at $36,860 — a 126% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
Tailor your resume to Wellhead Pumpers
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Wellhead Pumpers
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment.
- Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks.
- Gauge oil and gas production.
- Monitor control panels during pumping operations to ensure that materials are being pumped at the correct pressure, density, rate, and concentration.
- Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil.
- Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.
- Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks.
- Attach pumps and hoses to wellheads.
- Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required.
- Unload and assemble pipes and pumping equipment, using hand tools.
Tools & technology
- SAP software
- Moxa software
- Operational databases
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Chemistry
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics