Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Montana is $71,770/year ($34.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $73,990 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 23.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in Montana?
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Montana offers a genuinely strong financial position for pump operators, except wellhead pumperss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $67K 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 Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,767/month. At HUD’s $1,129/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 Montana?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $72K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Montana pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Montana?
The median is $71,770 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,110, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $113,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,646/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $73,990 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.