Prevailing Wage for Wellhead Pumpers
Prevailing wage for Wellhead Pumpers, the DOL's official SOC 53-7073 title, sets the minimum a sponsored employer must pay a Field Operator, Lease Operator, or Pumper on an H-1B, E-3, or green card petition. DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which oil-producing metro your worksite sits in.
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Level 1 covers entry-level pumpers with limited field experience, typically supervised closely and not yet responsible for independent well monitoring. Employers filing at this level should document that the role involves routine tasks performed under direct oversight.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Wellhead Pumpers. It fits a qualified operator with moderate experience who can manage routine production tasks with occasional supervision and handle standard equipment troubleshooting without constant oversight.
Level 3 applies to experienced operators who work independently across multiple well sites, troubleshoot abnormal conditions, and may train newer pumpers. DOL expects the employer to document reduced supervision and a broader scope of responsibilities.
Level 4 covers fully competent Wellhead Pumpers or lead operators who set field procedures, oversee junior staff, and carry accountability for production targets across a lease or district. This level requires clear documentation of supervisory or specialist duties.
Prevailing Wage for 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 Wellhead Pumpers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for Title Aliasing Under the Wrong SOC
Job postings for Lease Attendants and Well Field Technicians sometimes get filed under petroleum engineering or industrial machinery SOC codes. If your LCA lists a different SOC, the prevailing wage floor may not reflect the 53-7073 Wellhead Pumpers benchmark, leaving your offer underprotected.
Account for Location Swings Across Texas Basins
The Permian Basin metros around Midland and Houston pay substantially higher prevailing wages than Wichita Falls for the same experience level. If your offer is site-specific to a low-paying basin sub-market, confirm the LCA lists your exact worksite city, not a headquarters address.
Verify Bonus Exclusions in Oilfield Comp Packages
Production bonuses and per-diem field allowances common in oilfield contracts typically cannot count toward satisfying the prevailing wage floor. Only the base salary on the LCA counts, so an offer that looks competitive after bonuses may fall short of the required minimum.
Find Employers That Have Sponsored Pumpers Before
Migrate Mate shows which upstream operators and oilfield services companies have an actual H-1B or green card sponsorship history for field operator roles, so you can focus your search on employers already familiar with the LCA process for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for Wellhead PumpersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-7073.00 alongside Wellhead Pumpers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Field Operator Prevailing Wage
Field Operator Prevailing Wage
Field Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7073.00 (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.
Lease Attendant Prevailing Wage
Lease Attendant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Lease Attendant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7073.00 (Wellhead Pumpers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Lease Operator Prevailing Wage
Lease Operator Prevailing Wage
Lease Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7073.00 (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.
Oilfield Plant Operator Prevailing Wage
Oilfield Plant Operator Prevailing Wage
Oilfield Plant Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7073.00 (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.
Pumper Prevailing Wage
Pumper Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pumper for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7073.00 (Wellhead Pumpers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Well Field Technician Prevailing Wage
Well Field Technician Prevailing Wage
Well Field Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7073.00 (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.
Well Head Pumper Prevailing Wage
Well Head Pumper Prevailing Wage
Well Head Pumper positions fall under SOC 53-7073.00 (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.
Well Tender Prevailing Wage
Well Tender Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Well Tender for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7073.00 (Wellhead Pumpers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Wellhead Pumpers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate four wage levels for each SOC code in each metropolitan area. For Wellhead Pumpers under SOC 53-7073, OFLC publishes these figures in its prevailing wage database. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 as qualified with moderate supervision, Level 3 as experienced with independent judgment, and Level 4 as fully competent with lead or specialist responsibilities. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision structure in the job offer, not just your years of experience. The employer selects the level on the LCA, but you can cross-check by reviewing the posted position description against DOL's level criteria.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Wellhead Pumpers role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area reflects local labor market conditions. Oil-producing metros with dense upstream activity and competition for experienced operators, such as Midland or Houston, report higher survey wages than areas with fewer producing assets. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and OFLC applies the wage for that specific metropolitan area, not the employer's headquarters location.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage for Wellhead Pumpers?
An LCA certifying a wage below the applicable prevailing wage level is legally non-compliant. USCIS can deny the H-1B or green card petition if it finds the offered wage falls short. The employer is also exposed to DOL back-wage liability and potential debarment from future sponsorship if an audit finds the violation. If you receive an offer that appears below the floor, raise the discrepancy with the employer before the LCA is filed.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Wellhead Pumpers position in a U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 53-7073 in the metropolitan area where the job is located. Enter the occupation code and select the worksite metro to see all four wage levels. You can also check the O*NET profile for SOC 53-7073 to review the occupation definition and confirm the role aligns with the Wellhead Pumpers classification. Migrate Mate lists upstream and oilfield employers with documented sponsorship histories, which helps you identify which companies are already familiar with the LCA wage requirements for this role.
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