Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
What Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Do
Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 3.6%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Production and Processingimportance 3.4/5
- Mechanicalimportance 3.3/5
- English Languageimportance 3.3/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.0/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 3.0/5
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.0/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 2.9/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 2.7/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
- Exposed to Contaminants4.8/5
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment4.7/5
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions4.7/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.6/5
- Telephone Conversations4.5/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders97% skill match
- Printing Press Operators97% skill match
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals97% skill match
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers97% skill match
- Gas Plant Operators96% skill match
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators96% skill match
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders96% skill match
- Pourers and Casters, Metal96% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.9/5
- Operation and Controlimportance 3.5/5
- Troubleshootingimportance 3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.0/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
- Coordinationimportance 2.9/5
- Instructingimportance 2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 2.9/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Control
- Integrity
- Achievement Orientation
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- EnterprisingLow
- SocialLow
- ArtisticLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Midland, TX35.24× national avg
- 2Casper, WY26.62× national avg
- 3Albany, OR16.25× national avg
- 4Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA13.82× national avg
- 5Shreveport-Bossier City, LA10.17× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersCareer Change
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsLateral Move
- Power Plant OperatorsCareer Change
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsCareer Change
See the full career path from Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers →