Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
SOC Code: 53-7072 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walla Walla, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Bellingham, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $50,877 | $68,182 | $85,467 | $102,773 |
| Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $68,016 | $79,040 | $90,043 | $101,067 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 | |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.5 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Production and Processing | 3.4 |
| English Language | 3.3 |
| Mechanical | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Administration and Management | 3.0 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.0 |
| Engineering and Technology | 2.9 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.7 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 60.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 17.6% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 8.5% |
| Some college | 8.4% |
| Associate's degree | 4.6% |
Typical Tasks
- Monitor gauges and flowmeters and inspect equipment to ensure that tank levels, temperatures, chemical amounts, and pressures are at specified levels, reporting abnormalities as necessary.
- Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
- Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
- Tend vessels that store substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials, checking levels of substances by using calibrated rods or by reading mercury gauges and tank charts.
- Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
- Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of interconnections and capacities of pipelines, valve manifolds, pumps, and tankage.
- Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
- Clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word Computerized maintenance management system CMMS Operational databases Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
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