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
Less than 5 years
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.
Wellhead pumpers work in a specialized technical role that combines mechanical ability, physical stamina, and careful attention to detail. Nationally, there are about 19,000 people employed in this occupation, with a national median salary of $70,010, indicating substantial earning potential for those who qualify. The role typically requires at least a high school diploma or equivalent, along with strong mechanical, science, and problem-solving skills. Workers also benefit from solid fine motor skills, project management capabilities, and comfort with computers, mathematics, and information technology. While projected employment growth is -4.7%, there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing hiring needs. For people who can combine physical strength and stamina with technical aptitude and leadership, this career can offer stable employment and opportunities in several states and metro areas, particularly where opportunity scores and employment levels are higher.
The national median annual salary for wellhead pumpers is $70,010, showing strong earning potential compared with many roles that require only a high school diploma or equivalent. Pay varies significantly by location. Among the highlighted states, North Dakota reports a median salary of $79,820, and Texas reports $75,860, both above the national median. Colorado also stands out at $72,700. In contrast, California’s median salary is $64,430 and New York’s is $48,980. At the metro level, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, shows a median of $79,720, and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, is close behind at $78,010. Midland, TX, offers $72,110, while Akron, OH, reports $56,190 and Pittsburgh, PA, is lower at $39,060. These differences mean location choice has a major impact on earnings for this occupation.
Wellhead pumpers currently account for about 19,000 jobs nationally. Projected employment growth is -4.7%, indicating that overall employment in this occupation is expected to decline. Even with this negative growth, there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that while the total number of jobs may decrease over time, there will continue to be hiring needs due to factors such as turnover or workers leaving the occupation. The consistent -4.7% growth rate shown across multiple states and metro areas in the data indicates that this trend is broadly shared geographically. For job seekers, this means opportunities will likely remain available, but competition or shifts in where jobs are located may influence career planning. Individuals considering this field should pay close attention to the specific states and metro areas where employment levels and opportunity scores are higher.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for wellhead pumpers. Texas stands out with 10,250 employed and a median salary of $75,860, alongside an opportunity score of 51.57. North Dakota combines a relatively high median salary of $79,820 with employment of 1,540 and an opportunity score of 48.53. Colorado offers a median salary of $72,700 and employment of 370, with an opportunity score of 56.97, while California and New York have smaller employment levels and lower median pay but relatively high opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.78, respectively. At the metro level, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, both show strong employment numbers and median salaries near or above $78,000. Midland, TX, also has notable employment and pay. In contrast, Pittsburgh, PA, and Akron, OH, have smaller employment bases and lower median salaries, reflected in more moderate opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for wellhead pumpers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the role accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education and are ready to develop technical and physical skills on the job or through employer-provided training. Success in this occupation relies on a combination of abilities. Key skills include mechanical aptitude, physical strength and stamina, and fine motor skills, all of which support hands-on work. Science and mathematics skills help with understanding technical aspects of the role, while problem solving and decision making are important for addressing issues as they arise. Project management and leadership skills support organizing work and coordinating with others. Comfort with computers and information technology, along with being detail oriented, helps ensure accuracy and reliability. Together, these skills give candidates a clear roadmap for developing themselves beyond the basic educational requirement.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
