Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $66,920/year ($32.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $68,328 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,713/month, about 39% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $67K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk tracks closely to the national median, $67K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,713/month, which is 39.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.94) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in metros near Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $54K | $56K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $12K 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 with published data
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 39.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,713/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,274/month. At HUD’s $1,713/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $67K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $66,920 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,560, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $66,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,344/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 39.4% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 $68,328 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.