What is a pump operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a pump operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $20.48 an hour? That's $42,590 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 56,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScorePump OperatorUS Average
Salary
3.3

Avg. Salary $42,590

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.6

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.45%

Asian 2.26%

Black or African American 10.55%

Hispanic or Latino 23.95%

Unknown 4.45%

White 57.33%

Gender

female 3.93%

male 96.07%

Age - 39.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39.5
Stress Level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.9

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Pump Operator career paths

Key steps to become a pump operator

  1. Explore pump operator education requirements

    Most common pump operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    51.5 %

    Associate

    17.4 %

    Bachelor's

    16.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific pump operator skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    CDL37.29%
    Preventative Maintenance5.97%
    Equipment Inspections5.14%
    Safety Rules3.67%
    Pump Truck3.27%
  3. Complete relevant pump operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New pump operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a pump operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real pump operator resumes.
  4. Research pump operator duties and responsibilities

    • Learned and accomplish CDL at job make good career.
    • Manage HDD drilling unit, logging permit, transportation and laboratory analysis.
    • Set up concrete pump, operate boom, manage all aspects of vehicle safety and pump operations including concrete quality assurance.
    • Operate commercial vehicles with/ without Hazmat regulate loads and triplex pumps.
  5. Prepare your pump operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pump operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a pump operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Pump Operator Resume templates

    Build a professional Pump Operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Pump Operator resume.
    Pump Operator Resume
    Pump Operator Resume
    Pump Operator Resume
    Pump Operator Resume
    Pump Operator Resume
    Pump Operator Resume
    Pump Operator Resume
    Pump Operator Resume
    Pump Operator Resume
  6. Apply for pump operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a pump operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Pump Operator Job

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Average pump operator salary

The average Pump Operator salary in the United States is $42,590 per year or $20 per hour. Pump operator salaries range between $30,000 and $58,000 per year.

Average Pump Operator Salary
$42,590 Yearly
$20.48 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do pump operators rate their job?

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Pump Operator reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Every time on work i learn new experience that why i love and like my work

Cons

Wait on site when site is not ready


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

I find working in various areas and working with wide variety of companies allows me to learn many different ways to prep forms and finish concrete.

Cons

I dislike most the days I'm in 2 feet of mud or getting rained on


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Becoming a Pump Operator

Cons

The hard work, long hours, and good pay. Willingness to learn and become the best


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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