Wellhead Pumpers Salary
In California, wellhead pumpers earn $64,430 at the median, or about $30.98 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $60,703 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 58.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in California?
About wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in California
Wellhead pumpers pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $70K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 57.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Wellhead Pumpers salary by metro in California
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano | $61K | -5% | 60 |
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Track wellhead pumpers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 57.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/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 wellhead pumpers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,011/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $70K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for wellhead pumpers?
California pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $70K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do wellhead pumpers make in California?
The median is $64,430 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,180, and experienced wellhead pumpers can clear $76,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,288/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 57.6% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 $60,703 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.