Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Wellhead Pumpers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $69,960 Median per year · $33.63/hr Most earn $44,100–$98,170

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Attach pumps and hoses to wellheads.
  • Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks.
  • Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required.
  • Gauge oil and gas production.
  • Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.
  • Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks.

Job outlook

United States
2% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Oil and gas extraction68.6%
  • Support activities for mining28.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Wellhead Pumper is an entry-level job. Most people need a high school diploma plus about 1 to 2 years of related work, often on an oil field crew, before they get this role.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with solid math and science, and learn basic mechanical skills, since that's the usual minimum for oil field work.

  2. Roustabout, Oil and Gas

    1-2 years

    Start as a general field worker doing physical work like moving equipment and maintaining well sites, which teaches you how oil and gas sites run.

  3. Wellhead Pumper

    Ongoing

    Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to keep oil or gas flowing from wells, checking equipment and reporting problems as you go.

Where it can lead

  1. Petroleum Pump System Operator

    Several years as a Wellhead Pumper of experience first

    You'd run larger pump systems that move crude oil and related fluids, usually at a refinery or processing facility, which builds on the pump skills you already have.

  2. Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You'd run compressors and pumping stations that move natural gas through pipelines, a step that needs more hands-on equipment experience than a wellhead role.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, auto, or small engine classesHands-on mechanical skills help you understand the pumps and engines you'd work with on the job.
  • Take math and physicsPressure, flow, and measurement come up often in pump operation, so these classes give you a useful foundation.
  • Get a summer or after-school job doing outdoor or physical workFarm, landscaping, or construction work shows employers you can handle field conditions and work reliably.
  • Join a technical or career club, such as FFA or a robotics or engineering teamThese groups build teamwork, problem-solving, and comfort working with equipment.
  • Learn basic workplace safetyMany schools and community programs offer safety courses, and knowing safety rules early is valuable in oil field work.

In college

  • Take courses in industrial technology, mechanical maintenance, or petroleum technologyThese classes teach equipment and field skills that match what wellhead pumpers do, though a degree isn't required for this job.
  • Look for a summer job or internship at an oil and gas company or service contractorField experience is the main way people build the 1 to 2 years of background employers usually want.
  • Earn a safety or equipment certification if your school or town offers oneCertifications such as first aid or basic industrial safety show employers you're ready for field work.
  • Work a campus job that involves equipment or facilities maintenanceFacilities crews teach troubleshooting, reading gauges, and following procedures, which carry over to pumping work.
  • Join an engineering, energy, or trades student groupThese groups help you learn about the energy industry and meet people who can point you to openings.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask about entry jobs with oil and gas service companies or lease operators. Those are common ways in, even if you start as a general helper.
  • Get comfortable with safety training and basic equipment such as valves, gauges, and small engines. Employers look for people who are reliable and safety-minded.
  • Be ready for outdoor work in all kinds of weather, often on your own at remote sites, and for shift schedules that may include nights and weekends.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

Related careers