Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Dakota is $81,400/year ($39.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $91,574 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $81K get you in North Dakota?
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in North Dakota
North Dakota sits well above the national pay line for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 19.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for pump operators, except wellhead pumperss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $51K 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 Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 19.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,995/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Dakota?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $81K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
North Dakota pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in North Dakota?
The median is $81,400 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,920, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $100,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,339/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 19.4% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $91,574 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.