Wellhead Pumpers
Transportation and Material Moving
Watches pumps, flow lines, and control panels so oil or gas leaves the well at the right pressure, density, and rate. Gauges production, starts compressor engines to recover natural gas from oil, and switches flow into storage tanks or shuts wells off on a set schedule. Fixes meters and gauges and does routine upkeep on vehicles and equipment. The work is outdoors on oil-field sites, with close attention to leaks and panel readings. Suits people who like tracking systems, making practical decisions, and doing hands-on repair in a field setting.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$69'960
Median Wage Market Position
$69'960
What you might do
- Scan pumps and lines for leaks
- Measure oil and gas coming from wells
- Watch panels for pressure, rate, and density
- Start compressors to recover natural gas
- Shut wells and route oil into tanks
- Repair meters, gauges, and field equipment
Skills that matter
- Leak checks on well pumps and lines
- Production gauging for oil and gas
- Compressor work to recover natural gas
- Panel watch during pumping operations
- Meter and gauge repair in the field
- Routine upkeep of vehicles and equipment
AI & the future of this role
Remote monitoring could cover more day-to-day well checks as fields digitize. Weather-exposed sites, mechanical failures, and on-the-ground decisions about extraction equipment still favor people on location, even as some routine oversight shifts.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details