Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Salem, OR is $48,200/year ($23.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.65), that's roughly $46,503 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,560/month, about 46.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K get you in Salem?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salem’s Regional Price Parity (103.65). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in Salem
Pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Salem runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,560/month, which is 50.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.65) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for pump operators, except wellhead pumperss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in metros near Salem, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $63K | $60K |
| Albany | $48K | $47K |
| Bend | $58K | $56K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $63K | $56K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salem, OR
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $92K | +49% | 50 |
| North Dakota | $81K | +32% | 70 |
| Alaska | $80K | +30% | 120 |
| Wyoming | $78K | +26% | 290 |
| Connecticut | $72K | +16% | 30 |
| Montana | $72K | +16% | 50 |
| Michigan | $70K | +13% | 40 |
| Alabama | $67K | +8% | 100 |
| Virginia | $67K | +8% | 150 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +5% | 310 |
| Ohio | $65K | +5% | 150 |
| Louisiana | $64K | +4% | 1,370 |
| Georgia | $64K | +4% | 130 |
| Texas | $62K | +0% | 2,110 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -0% | 70 |
| Utah | $62K | -0% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $61K | -1% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -2% | 190 |
| Indiana | $61K | -2% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -2% | 70 |
| Idaho | $60K | -3% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $60K | -3% | 60 |
| Florida | $59K | -4% | 510 |
| New Mexico | $59K | -5% | 80 |
| Nevada | $58K | -6% | 150 |
| California | $58K | -7% | 1,220 |
| Washington | $57K | -8% | 80 |
| Oregon | $55K | -12% | 630 |
| Tennessee | $52K | -16% | 80 |
| Maine | $51K | -17% | N/A |
| New York | $48K | -22% | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -24% | 90 |
| Colorado | $47K | -24% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $47K | -25% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $46K | -25% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $46K | -26% | 180 |
| Missouri | $45K | -28% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Salem numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salem?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 50.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,560/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 Salem?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,333/month. At HUD’s $1,560/month FMR, rent would take 67% 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 Salem?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $48K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Salem compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Salem pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.65), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Salem, OR?
The median is $48,200 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,890, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $79,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Salem?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,090/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,560/month, which eats 50.5% 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 Salem?
Salem has a Regional Price Parity of 103.65 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary is worth about $46,503 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.