What is a Pump Operator?
Pump Operator Definition 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.
What Do Pump Operators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Pump two or more materials into one tank to blend mixtures.
- Clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment.
- Tend auxiliary equipment such as water treatment and refrigeration units, and heat exchangers.
- Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
- Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
- 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.
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What a 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.
Types of Pump Operator Jobs
- Blend Technician
- Concrete Pump Operator
- Boom Pump Operator
- Service Technician
- Brine Well Operator
Is There Going to be Demand for Pump Operators?
There were about 11,900 jobs for Pump Operator in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
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.
Salary for a Pump Operator
Pump Operators make between $28,930 and $73,010 a year.
Pump Operators who work in Indiana, California, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Pump Operators in different U.S. states.
| 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?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Pump Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Data entry software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
How do I Become a Pump Operator?
What kind of Pump Operator requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Pump Operator?
Pump Operators Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those who work as a Pump Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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