How much does a Wellhead Pumpers make?

The median annual wage for Wellhead Pumpers is $69,960 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35). The lowest 10 percent earn about $44,100 and the highest 10 percent about $98,170.

What will a Wellhead Pumpers earn in 10 years?

The Shigoto Zukan model projects $91,900 in 10 years ($79,000–$106,600) and $80,200 in 5 years.

What is the job outlook for Wellhead Pumpers?

Employment of Wellhead Pumpers is projected to change by −2.0% over 2025–35 (BLS), with about 1,700 openings per year. The Shigoto Zukan outlook score is 46/100.

Wellhead Pumpers

Q: Will AI replace Wellhead Pumpers?

The AI replacement risk for Wellhead Pumpers is 42% (Moderate), estimated by comparing the tasks that AI and software can take over with the tasks that are hard to automate.

United States SOC 53-7073.00 Logistics Confidence ★★★★★

Also called: Field Operator, Gas Lease Pumper, Gas Well Pumper, Lease Attendant, Lease Operator, Oil Field Operator, Oil Field Plant Operator, Oil Field Pumper

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

Median annual pay

$69,960

25th–75th pct. $52,330–$82,200

Top pay (est.)

$127,600

Top 10% $98,170

Pay in 5 years

$80,200est.

2031

Pay in 10 years

$91,900est.

$79,000–$106,600

Outlook score

46/100

★★☆☆☆ Average

AI replacement risk

42%

Moderate

Job growth (10 yr)

−2.0%

1,700 openings / yr

What wellhead pumpers do

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

Typical tasks

Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks.
Gauge oil and gas production.
Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil.
Monitor control panels during pumping operations to ensure that materials are being pumped at the correct pressure, density, rate, and concentration.
Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks.
Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.
Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment.
Open valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize them and force oil to surface.
Change water filters.
Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required.
Attach pumps and hoses to wellheads.
Mix acids, chemicals, or dry cement as required for a specific job.

Typical path into the job (BLS)

Education High school diploma or equivalentRelated experience Less than 5 yearsOn-the-job training Moderate-term on-the-job trainingO*NET Job Zone 2

Wellhead Pumpers salary

The median annual wage for wellhead pumpers is $69,960 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $44,100 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $98,170. The mean annual wage is $70,370.

Median

$69,960

Mean

$70,370

10th percentile

$44,100

Entry level

25th percentile

$52,330

75th percentile

$82,200

90th percentile

$98,170

Top earners

Mean hourly wage

$33.00

4.6× the federal minimum ($7.25)

In Japanese yen

¥11.00M

≈ at 157.25 JPY/USD

The mean hourly wage of $33.00 is 4.6× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →

How does your pay compare with people your age?

Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).

Pay by percentile

Entry level (10th pct.)

$44,100

Early career (25th pct.)

$52,330

Mid career (median)

$69,960

Experienced (75th pct.)

$82,200

Top earners (90th pct.)

$98,170

Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.

How median, percentiles and the pay range are defined →

Projected pay for Wellhead Pumpers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.

Today $69,960 → in 3 years $75,900 → in 5 years $80,200 → in 10 years $91,900 (10-year range $79,000–$106,600). The model assumes pay growth of +2.8% per year.

$69,960

Now
2026

$75,900

In 3 yrs
2029

$70,100–$82,600

$80,200

In 5 yrs
2031

$72,200–$89,300

$91,900

In 10 yrs
2036

$79,000–$106,600

What drives the annual growth rate

Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand -0.3%AI impact +0.06%Total +2.8% / yr

Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →

Outlook score for Wellhead Pumpers

46/100

★★☆☆☆

Average · ranked #580 of all U.S. occupations

Pay level

61 pts

AI resistance

58 pts

Entry barrier

40 pts

Annual openings

57 pts

Projected growth

20 pts

Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.

Will AI replace Wellhead Pumpers? AI replacement risk

42%

Moderate

Ranked #399 safest from AI among all U.S. occupations

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

How AI is changing this job

A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.

AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →

Labor demand for Wellhead Pumpers

Employment

18K

BLS OEWS

Projected employment

18K

2025–35

Projected change

−2.0%

ranked #650 for growth

Annual openings

1,700

growth + replacement needs

Demand score

Low

33/100

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

Work experience

Less than 5 years

in a related occupation

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.

Skills, education and requirements for Wellhead Pumpers

Key skills

Operation and Control

3.9

Operations Monitoring

3.9

Repairing

3.8

Equipment Maintenance

3.2

Monitoring

3.2

Speaking

3.0

Troubleshooting

3.0

Critical Thinking

3.0

O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).

Key knowledge areas

Mechanical

4.3

Chemistry

3.3

Mathematics

3.2

Computers and Electronics

3.0

Administrative

2.9

Building and Construction

2.8

Engineering and Technology

2.6

Public Safety and Security

2.5

What the work involves

Performing General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentProcessing InformationInspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Important abilities

Control PrecisionReaction TimePerceptual SpeedMultilimb CoordinationNear VisionProblem Sensitivity

Education of workers

High school diploma

80%

Post-secondary certificate

11%

Associate's degree

Less than high school

Training before entry

Up to 1 month

35%

1–3 months

27%

6–12 months

25%

3–6 months

12%

Related work experience

3–6 months

15%

4–6 years

11%

8–10 years

11%

6–12 months

2–4 years

1–3 months

Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)

Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)

How to become wellhead pumpers

Typical education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS

Related experience

Less than 5 years

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.

Career path and how to earn more as wellhead pumpers

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.

Related occupations

	Occupation	Pay	Outlook	AI risk
1	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.	$40,240	45/100	33%
2	Stockers and Order Fillers Receive, store, and issue merchandise, materials, equipment, and other items from stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers' orders.	$37,330	61/100	35%
3	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory.	$45,260	25/100	54%
4	Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.	$46,420	43/100	30%
5	Packers and Packagers, Hand Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.	$36,280	33/100	38%
6	Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule.	$59,650	34/100	70%

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data

Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.