Jobs Similar to Wellhead Pumpers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to wellhead pumpers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators, Power Plant Operators and Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators.
Wellhead Pumpers: $69,960 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
82% similar · $77,320 (+11%) · High school · Same group
- 2Power Plant Operators
82% similar · $102,040 (+46%) · High school
- 3Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
82% similar · $78,620 (+12%) · Training or associate
- 4Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
82% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 5Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
81% similar · $96,710 (+38%) · High school
- 6Biomass Plant Technicians
81% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school
- 7Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
81% similar · $61,770 (−12%) · High school · Same group
- 8Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
80% similar · $60,020 (−14%) · High school
- 9Pile Driver Operators
80% similar · $73,300 (+5%) · High school
- 10Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $46,550 (−33%) · High school
- 11Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $46,330 (−34%) · High school
- 12Gas Plant Operators
79% similar · $87,820 (+26%) · High school
- 13Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $52,800 (−25%) · High school
- 14Continuous Mining Machine Operators
79% similar · $61,810 (−12%) · High school
- 15Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $49,080 (−30%) · High school
- 16Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $38,760 (−45%) · High school
- 17Ship Engineers
78% similar · $109,530 (+57%) · Training or associate
- 18Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
78% similar · $65,510 (−6%) · Training or associate
- 19Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $45,760 (−35%) · High school
- 20Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
78% similar · $74,340 (+6%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than wellhead pumpers.
- Power Plant Operators82% similar · $102,040 (+46%)
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers81% similar · $96,710 (+38%)
- Gas Plant Operators79% similar · $87,820 (+26%)
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators82% similar · $77,320 (+11%)
- Pile Driver Operators80% similar · $73,300 (+5%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for wellhead pumpers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where wellhead pumpers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (86)
- Biomass Plant Technicians (85)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (84)
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (83)
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas (83)
- Biofuels Processing Technicians (82)
- Geothermal Technicians (81)
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (81)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (80)
- Gas Plant Operators (80)
Questions about jobs like wellhead pumpers
What jobs are most similar to wellhead pumpers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (82% similar), Power Plant Operators (82% similar), Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (82% similar), Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (82% similar) and Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (81% similar).
Which jobs like wellhead pumpers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Ship Engineers ($109,530, +57%; usually training or an associate degree), Power Plant Operators ($102,040, +46%; usually a high school diploma) and Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +38%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with wellhead pumpers ($69,960). Without more preparation than wellhead pumpers usually need: Power Plant Operators, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers and Gas Plant Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.