Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in California is $57,660/year ($27.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $54,324 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 65.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $58K actually covers in California, month by month
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in California
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 63.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary by metro in California
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $72K | +24% | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $63K | +9% | 250 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $61K | +6% | 40 |
| Fresno | $60K | +3% | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $54K | -6% | 90 |
| Visalia | $40K | -31% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 63.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,559/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 97% 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 California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
California pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in California?
The median is $57,660 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,470, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $86,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,885/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 63.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary is worth about $54,324 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.