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What Do Pump Operator Do?

Occupation Description 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.

Life As a Pump Operator: What Do They Do?

  • Monitor gauges and flowmeters and inspect equipment to ensure that tank levels, temperatures, chemical amounts, and pressures are at specified levels, reporting abnormalities as necessary.
  • Test materials and solutions, using testing equipment.
  • Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
  • Add chemicals and solutions to tanks to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of interconnections and capacities of pipelines, valve manifolds, pumps, and tankage.
  • Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.

What Every Pump Operator Should Know

When polled, Pump Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Gas Transfer Operator
  • Main Line Station Engineer
  • Panelboard Tank Pumper
  • Brewery Pumper
  • Pump Operator

Is There Job Demand for Pump Operators?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 11,900 jobs in the United States for Pump Operator. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,600 new jobs for Pump Operator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,700 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Pump Operator are North Dakota, Idaho, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, North Carolina, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Pump Operator Average Salary

The average yearly salary of a Pump Operator ranges between $28,930 and $73,010.

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Pump Operators who work in Indiana, California, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.

How much do Pump Operators make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $54,960
Alaska $52,990
Arizona $51,260
California $54,750
Colorado $46,580
Florida $43,530
Georgia $45,010
Illinois $53,050
Indiana $55,230
Kansas $37,260
Kentucky $47,260
Louisiana $50,270
Michigan $47,440
Minnesota $50,350
Mississippi $40,590
Missouri $38,160
Montana $50,950
Nebraska $33,470
New Hampshire $50,410
New Jersey $47,230
North Dakota $45,540
Ohio $42,550
Oklahoma $46,510
Oregon $48,950
Pennsylvania $42,370
Texas $44,230
Utah $53,060
Washington $45,670
West Virginia $50,010

What Tools & Technology do Pump Operators Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Pump Operators may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Data entry software
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS

Becoming a Pump Operator

What kind of Pump Operator requirements are there?

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What work experience do I need to become a Pump Operator?

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Pump Operators Sector

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Career changers with experience as a Pump Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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