Prevailing Wage for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Prevailing wages for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers are set by the DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level outside operators to fully competent pipeline dispatch operators and chemical pumpers. The floor varies considerably by city, so a boom pump operator offer that clears the threshold in one metro may fall short in another.
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Level 1 covers entry-level pump operators with limited experience who work under close supervision, follow established procedures, and handle routine tasks such as monitoring gauges and basic transfer operations. Minimal independent judgment is expected at this stage.
Level 2 applies to qualified operators with practical field experience who can work with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers, reflecting standard journey-level competency across pipeline, chemical, and industrial settings.
Level 3 covers experienced operators who handle complex or specialized transfer systems with limited oversight. They may troubleshoot equipment issues, coordinate with multiple teams, and take responsibility for safe operation of manifold systems and multi-product pipelines.
Level 4 applies to fully competent operators in senior or lead roles who exercise significant independent judgment, may train others, and oversee critical pump and manifold systems. These professionals often hold specialized certifications or manage high-risk transfer operations.
Prevailing Wage for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Know where oil and gas pay concentrates
Prevailing wages for pump operators vary sharply between petrochemical hubs like Beaumont and Longview, Texas and lower-paying metros like New Orleans. If your offer is in a high-density refinery corridor, confirm the worksite city on the LCA matches your actual assignment location.
Watch for title mismatches on the LCA
Roles filed under wellhead pumper or production operator titles may fall under different SOC codes and miss the SOC 53-7072 prevailing wage floor entirely. Confirm your employer's LCA lists the correct DOL occupation title before your petition is submitted.
Understand how shift differentials factor into compliance
For pump operators working rotating shifts or hazard-pay schedules, confirm that only base wages count toward prevailing wage compliance. OFLC excludes bonuses and shift premiums from the required wage calculation, so a high gross figure can still leave base pay below the floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with pump operator history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored pump operator and pipeline roles, so you can focus your search on companies that have filed for this occupation rather than those with no sponsorship track record in industrial or chemical operations.
Jobs for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-7072.00 alongside Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Boom Pump Operator Prevailing Wage
Boom Pump Operator Prevailing Wage
Boom Pump Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Chemical Pumper Prevailing Wage
Chemical Pumper Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Chemical Pumper for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Day Light Relief Operator Prevailing Wage
Day Light Relief Operator Prevailing Wage
Day Light Relief Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Outside Operator Prevailing Wage
Outside Operator Prevailing Wage
Outside Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Pipeline Dispatch Operator Prevailing Wage
Pipeline Dispatch Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pipeline Dispatch Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pipeline Operator Prevailing Wage
Pipeline Operator Prevailing Wage
Pipeline Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pump Operator Prevailing Wage
Pump Operator Prevailing Wage
Pump Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Pump Station Operator Prevailing Wage
Pump Station Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pump Station Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pumper Prevailing Wage
Pumper Prevailing Wage
Pumper is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Tank Farm Operator Prevailing Wage
Tank Farm Operator Prevailing Wage
Tank Farm Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7072.00 (Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers?
The DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For SOC 53-7072, it calculates four wage levels based on experience and complexity. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored pump operator must pay at least the prevailing wage for the assigned worksite location and the appropriate experience level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified, journey-level work and is the most commonly filed level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced operators handling complex systems with limited oversight. Level 4 applies to senior or lead roles requiring significant independent judgment. Your employer selects the level based on the actual duties in the job description, not your personal experience alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same pump operator role differ so much between cities?
OFLC sets wages using regional OES surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. Industrial hubs with high concentrations of refineries and chemical plants tend to push wages up through employer competition. The LCA worksite-on-file rule means the prevailing wage is tied to where you physically work, not your employer's headquarters. A metro with few pump operator employers may show a lower floor than a dense petrochemical corridor.
What happens if a job offer for a sponsored pump operator position falls below the prevailing wage?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or similar sponsored petition if the offered wage is below the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. The employer must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or reclassify the role at the correct level before the LCA is certified. An underpaid offer cannot proceed to petition stage without correction.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a pump operator role in a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current DOL prevailing wage by SOC code, wage level, and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 53-7072 and your worksite city to see the floor for each of the four levels. O*NET provides additional context on the occupation's duties and job zone. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have sponsored pump operator and related pipeline roles by location.
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