Pump Operators Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
The median pump operators salary in the United States is $61,770 per year ($29.70/hour). Salaries range from $39,420 at the entry level to $91,820+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 9,780 pump operators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.6% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$61,770
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.70
per hour
Employment
9,780
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$39,420
25th percentile
$47,560
Median
$61,770
75th percentile
$77,210
90th percentile
$91,820
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+2.6%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
1,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Pump Operators Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$45K$92K■ No data
Top Paying States
Illinois
$92K
+49%
North Dakota
$81K
+32%
Alaska
$80K
+30%
Wyoming
$78K
+26%
Connecticut
$72K
+16%
Montana
$72K
+16%
Michigan
$70K
+13%
Alabama
$67K
+8%
Virginia
$67K
+8%
New Jersey
$65K
+5%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $92,310 | +49.4% |
| North Dakota | $81,400 | +31.8% |
| Alaska | $80,210 | +29.9% |
| Wyoming | $77,820 | +26.0% |
| Connecticut | $71,890 | +16.4% |
| Montana | $71,770 | +16.2% |
| Michigan | $69,540 | +12.6% |
| Alabama | $66,890 | +8.3% |
| Virginia | $66,500 | +7.7% |
| New Jersey | $64,990 | +5.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 37
Pump Operators Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $82,090 | +32.9% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $79,840 | +29.3% |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $79,010 | +27.9% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $76,670 | +24.1% |
| Anchorage, AK | $75,810 | +22.7% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $71,780 | +16.2% |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $67,550 | +9.4% |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $66,920 | +8.3% |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $64,220 | +4.0% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $64,050 | +3.7% |
Showing 1–10 of 38
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A pump operators earning $61,770/year would need 965 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1036 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how pump operators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Pump Operators salary trend (2011–2024) →