Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Baton Rouge, LA is $79,840/year ($38.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.78), which stretches that salary to about $87,949 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,204/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K get you in Baton Rouge?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baton Rouge’s Regional Price Parity (90.78). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge sits well above the national pay line for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,204/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Baton Rouge offers a genuinely strong financial position for pump operators, except wellhead pumperss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in metros near Baton Rouge, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $38K | $41K |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $64K | $76K |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $63K | $74K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $77K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baton Rouge, LA
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $92K | +49% | 50 |
| North Dakota | $81K | +32% | 70 |
| Alaska | $80K | +30% | 120 |
| Wyoming | $78K | +26% | 290 |
| Connecticut | $72K | +16% | 30 |
| Montana | $72K | +16% | 50 |
| Michigan | $70K | +13% | 40 |
| Alabama | $67K | +8% | 100 |
| Virginia | $67K | +8% | 150 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +5% | 310 |
| Ohio | $65K | +5% | 150 |
| Louisiana | $64K | +4% | 1,370 |
| Georgia | $64K | +4% | 130 |
| Texas | $62K | +0% | 2,110 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -0% | 70 |
| Utah | $62K | -0% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $61K | -1% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -2% | 190 |
| Indiana | $61K | -2% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -2% | 70 |
| Idaho | $60K | -3% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $60K | -3% | 60 |
| Florida | $59K | -4% | 510 |
| New Mexico | $59K | -5% | 80 |
| Nevada | $58K | -6% | 150 |
| California | $58K | -7% | 1,220 |
| Washington | $57K | -8% | 80 |
| Oregon | $55K | -12% | 630 |
| Tennessee | $52K | -16% | 80 |
| Maine | $51K | -17% | N/A |
| New York | $48K | -22% | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -24% | 90 |
| Colorado | $47K | -24% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $47K | -25% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $46K | -25% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $46K | -26% | 180 |
| Missouri | $45K | -28% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baton Rouge numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baton Rouge?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,204/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Baton Rouge?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,743/month. At HUD’s $1,204/month FMR, rent would take 69% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is pump operators, except wellhead pumper a high-paying job in Baton Rouge?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $80K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Baton Rouge compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Baton Rouge pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median is $79,840 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,050, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $93,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Baton Rouge?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,145/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,204/month, which eats 23.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary go in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity of 90.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary is worth about $87,949 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.