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Salary comparison

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by $22K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers land at $61,770 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $40,240. The education gap is real: pump operators, except wellhead pumper programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers is Illinois ($92,310); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$61,770
$40,240
Hourly rate
$29.7/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$39,420
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$91,820
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
9,780
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
2.6%
1.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Illinois
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers median pay.

State
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
North Dakota
$81,400
$45,690
Alaska
$80,210
$44,510
Connecticut
$71,890
$43,640
Montana
$71,770
$43,840
Pennsylvania
$60,660
$42,480
Wisconsin
$60,320
$44,610
Minnesota
$59,700
$46,280
California
$57,660
$44,710
Washington
$57,030
$46,190
Oregon
$54,540
$44,750
Maine
$51,370
$42,640
New York
$48,010
$44,630
Colorado
$46,680
$45,370
Kentucky
$46,600
$42,770
Nebraska
$46,170
$42,910

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers earn more nationally. The median is $61,770 for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, a difference of $22K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers has the better 10-year outlook at 2.6% projected growth, compared to 1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers get paid the most?

Illinois is the top-paying state for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers at $92,310/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In North Dakota, Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers earn $81,400 vs. $45,690 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by take-home payExplore →How to become a pump operators, except wellhead pumpersGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →