Wellhead Pumpers Salary
In Bakersfield-Delano, CA, wellhead pumpers earn $61,340 at the median, or about $29.49 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.89), that's roughly $60,799 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,483/month, about 37% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $61K get you in Bakersfield-Delano?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bakersfield-Delano’s Regional Price Parity (100.89). 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 wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in Bakersfield-Delano
Pay for wellhead pumpers in Bakersfield-Delano runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $70K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,483/month, which is 36.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.89) 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 wellhead pumperss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Entry-level wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Wellhead Pumpers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Wellhead Pumpers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $80K | +14% | 1,540 |
| New Mexico | $78K | +12% | 1,060 |
| Louisiana | $77K | +10% | 110 |
| Texas | $76K | +8% | 10,250 |
| Colorado | $73K | +4% | 370 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -8% | 90 |
| California | $64K | -8% | 160 |
| Mississippi | $63K | -11% | 80 |
| Kansas | $62K | -11% | 620 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -12% | 770 |
| Utah | $60K | -14% | 130 |
| Montana | $58K | -17% | 90 |
| Wyoming | $57K | -18% | 490 |
| West Virginia | $52K | -25% | 660 |
| Illinois | $51K | -26% | 240 |
| New York | $49K | -30% | 50 |
| Michigan | $48K | -32% | 210 |
| Ohio | $47K | -33% | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | -35% | 640 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track wellhead pumpers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bakersfield-Delano numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bakersfield-Delano?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 36.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,483/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for wellhead pumpers in Bakersfield-Delano?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,997/month. At HUD’s $1,483/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is wellhead pumper a high-paying job in Bakersfield-Delano?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $61K here vs. $70K nationally.
How does Bakersfield-Delano compare to the national average for wellhead pumpers?
Bakersfield-Delano pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $70K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do wellhead pumpers make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The median is $61,340 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,950, and experienced wellhead pumpers can clear $74,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Bakersfield-Delano?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,110/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,483/month, which eats 36.1% 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 wellhead pumpers salary go in Bakersfield-Delano?
Bakersfield-Delano has a Regional Price Parity of 100.89 (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 wellhead pumpers salary is worth about $60,799 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do 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.