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Lease operator (wellhead pumper): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$69,960median pay per year, or $33.63 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,100lowest 10% earn less
  2. $52,33025th percentile
  3. $69,960median
  4. $82,20075th percentile
  5. $98,170top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A lease operator, which BLS calls a wellhead pumper, had a median pay of $69,960 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to shrink 2% by 2035, while jobs overall are projected to grow[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-2%[2]
Openings per year
1,700[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do lease operators make?

In May 2025, the median pay for wellhead pumpers was $69,960 a year, or $33.63 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $70,370 a year, or $33.83 an hour[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980 a year[5].

Pay covers a wide range. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,100 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $52,330[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $82,200, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $98,170[4]. In hourly terms, those four marks were $21.20, $25.16, $39.52 and $47.20[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentiles rather than a starting salary[10].

These figures count wage and salary jobs only. They leave out self-employed workers, bonuses outside regular production pay, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 17,990 people held these jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Among the 19 states with published data, North Dakota had the highest median at $79,820, followed by New Mexico at $78,010, Louisiana at $76,930 and Texas at $75,860[13]. Pennsylvania had the lowest median in that list at $45,490[13].

Texas had by far the most jobs at 10,250[14]. North Dakota had 1,540, New Mexico 1,060, Oklahoma 770 and West Virginia 660[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX led on pay at $79,720[15]. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX followed at $78,010, then Minot, ND at $77,310[15]. Houston also had the most jobs of any metro area at 3,860, ahead of Midland, TX at 1,660[16].

Show median pay in 19 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
North Dakota[13]$79,8201,540
New Mexico$78,0101,060
Louisiana$76,930110
Texas$75,86010,250
Colorado$72,700370
Arkansas$64,65090
California$64,430160
Mississippi$62,56080
Kansas$62,400620
Oklahoma$61,380770
Utah$59,970130
Montana$57,83090
Wyoming$57,200490
West Virginia$52,170660
Illinois$51,440240
New York$48,98050
Michigan$47,630210
Ohio$46,750250
Pennsylvania$45,490640

How to become a lease operator

The typical path into this occupation, according to BLS, has three parts[7]:

In an ONET survey of 22 workers, 80% said a high school diploma or the equivalent was the education level required[17]. Another 11% said a post-secondary certificate, and 7% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree[17]. ONET places the job in a group where some people need little previous experience and others need several months to a year[18].

Workers in this field report job titles such as field operator, lease attendant, pumper, well tender and oilfield plant operator[19]. The facts here do not name any license or exam, so check with local employers about what they ask for.

What lease operators do

O*NET describes the job as running power pumps and related equipment so that oil or gas flows from wells in an oil field[20]. Common tasks include:

Job outlook

BLS projects that employment of wellhead pumpers will fall 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,400 jobs to 18,000, a drop of 400[2]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. For all occupations, BLS projects growth of 3.5% over the same years[3].

Even with fewer jobs, BLS expects about 1,700 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.1% of workers leave the labor force and 6.4% move to a different occupation[22].

The OEWS count of 17,990 jobs[12] and the projections count of about 18,400[2] measure different things, so they do not match exactly.

Is it a good fit?

The pay is higher than the all-occupations median, and the entry path starts with a high school diploma or equivalent[1][5][7]. Pay depends a lot on where you work, with state medians ranging from $45,490 to $79,820[13]. The number of jobs is projected to shrink slightly, though about 1,700 openings a year are still expected[2][6]. The task list in the facts describes oil and gas field work such as checking pumps, gauging production and doing upkeep on equipment[21].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lease operator make an hour?
BLS reports a median of $33.63 an hour for wellhead pumpers in May 2025, with an average of $33.83[1][8].
What degree do you need to be a lease operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[7].
Is lease operator work in demand?
Employment is projected to fall 2% from 2025 to 2035, but about 1,700 openings a year are expected[2][6].
What is the highest paying state for lease operators?
North Dakota had the highest median among states with published data at $79,820 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Wellhead Pumpers in the US was $69,960 per year and $33.63 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Wellhead Pumpers is projected to decline 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,400 to 18,000 jobs (a change of -400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Wellhead Pumpers: 10th percentile $44,100, 25th percentile $52,330, 75th percentile $82,200, 90th percentile $98,170. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,700 openings for Wellhead Pumpers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Wellhead Pumpers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Wellhead Pumpers was $70,370 per year and $33.83 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Wellhead Pumpers: 10th percentile $21.20, 25th percentile $25.16, 75th percentile $39.52, 90th percentile $47.20. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 17,990 people were employed as Wellhead Pumpers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Wellhead Pumpers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Wellhead Pumpers jobs: Texas 10,250; North Dakota 1,540; New Mexico 1,060; Oklahoma 770; West Virginia 660. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Wellhead Pumpers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $79,720; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $78,010; Minot, ND $77,310; Lubbock, TX $76,850; Odessa, TX $75,450; Midland, TX $72,110; Oklahoma City, OK $64,960; Longview, TX $64,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Wellhead Pumpers jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 3,860 (median $79,720); Midland, TX 1,660 (median $72,110); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 830 (median $78,010); Pittsburgh, PA 350 (median $39,060); Odessa, TX 330 (median $75,450); Oklahoma City, OK 230 (median $64,960). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 53-7073.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 80%, Post-Secondary Certificate 11%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 53-7073.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 53-7073.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Field Operator, Lease Attendant, Lease Operator, Oilfield Plant Operator, Pumper, Well Field Technician, Well Head Pumper, Well Tender. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET description of Wellhead Pumpers. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET task list for Wellhead Pumpers. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Wellhead Pumpers: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.