Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Minnesota is $59,700/year ($28.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $64,471 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,384/month, about 35.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Minnesota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $60K get you in Minnesota?
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,384/month, which is 35.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $44K 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 Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 35.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/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 Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,404/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Minnesota pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Minnesota?
The median is $59,700 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,740, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $101,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,948/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 35.1% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $64,471 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.