Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Carolina is $45,890/year ($22.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $49,525 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 40.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $46K get you in North Carolina?
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Carolina runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 41.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for pump operators, except wellhead pumperss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $22K 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 North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 41.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,262/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $46K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
North Carolina pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in North Carolina?
The median is $45,890 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,700, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $59,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,071/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 41.8% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $49,525 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.