Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Michigan is $69,540/year ($33.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $74,065 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 27.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $70K get you in Michigan?
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Michigan
Michigan sits well above the national pay line for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,808/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Michigan?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $70K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Michigan pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Michigan?
The median is $69,540 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,800, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $118,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,529/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 28.1% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $74,065 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.