Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, work in a specialized occupation with a clearly defined national footprint and modest projected growth. With national employment of 13,000 and projected employment growth of 2.6%, this field offers a combination of stability and ongoing openings, with about 2,000 job opportunities expected each year. The national median annual salary of $60,020 places this occupation in a solid earnings range for individuals who typically need only a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the field. The role draws on a mix of mechanical, technical, and problem-solving skills, along with physical strength and stamina. Workers also benefit from strong opportunities in selected states and metro areas, where both salaries and opportunity scores are notably high. For people who like working with equipment, applying critical and analytical thinking, and using both physical and cognitive skills, this career can be a strong, skills-focused path with multiple geographic options and steady demand.
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, earn a national median annual salary of $60,020, which provides a solid income level given that the typical education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent. Earnings vary across states and metro areas. Among top states by opportunity score, Virginia shows a median salary of $66,500 and Texas $61,770, while California and Washington are in the upper-$50,000 range and New York is slightly lower at $48,010. Metro salaries can be even higher: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont posts a median salary of $71,780, and several other large metro areas, such as New York-Newark-Jersey City and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, offer median salaries above $63,000. These figures suggest that workers willing to target specific metro regions, especially within high-opportunity states, can access stronger earning potential within this occupation.
This occupation has a national employment base of 13,000 pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, with projected employment growth of 2.6%. While the projected growth rate is modest, the occupation still generates an estimated 2,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing demand for workers in this field. The 2.6% growth figure is consistent across the highlighted top states and metro areas, indicating a generally steady outlook rather than large regional differences in projected expansion. For job seekers and career changers, this means opportunities are likely to continue emerging through a mix of employment growth and turnover. The combination of an established workforce size and recurring openings can be attractive for individuals seeking a path where positions become available on a regular basis. The presence of defined high-opportunity states and metros further supports the idea that those who are flexible about location may find multiple viable entry points into this career.
Location plays an important role in shaping opportunity for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers. Among states, California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $57,660, and employment of 1,220. New York, with an opportunity score of 65.78, offers a lower median salary of $48,010 but still appears strong overall. Washington and Virginia have higher median salaries—$57,030 and $66,500 respectively—with smaller employment bases, while Texas combines a relatively high median salary of $61,770 and the largest employment among top states at 2,110. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area stands out with the highest opportunity score of 77.27 and a median salary of $63,540. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont offers the highest listed metro salary at $71,780 and a strong opportunity score of 68.75. Other California metros and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington also provide competitive salaries and solid opportunity scores, giving workers several high-value geographic choices.
The typical education requirement for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, is a high school diploma or equivalent. This creates a pathway into a skilled, specialized occupation without the need for a college degree. Success in this role, however, depends heavily on a distinct blend of abilities. Mechanical skills and fine motor capabilities are key foundations, supported by physical strength and stamina. The occupation also calls for cognitive strengths such as problem solving and decision making, critical and analytical thinking, and comfort with science and mathematics. Writing and reading skills support accurate communication and documentation, while competence with computers and information technology reflects the importance of working with modern systems and tools. Project management is another important capability, indicating the value of organizing tasks and coordinating work. Together, these skills define a profile that combines hands-on mechanical aptitude with disciplined thinking and basic technical literacy.
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