Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Transportation & Material Moving
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-7072
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment.
• 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.
• 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.
• Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
• Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
• Connect hoses and pipelines to pumps and vessels prior to material transfer, using hand tools.
• 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.
• Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
• Test materials and solutions, using testing equipment.
• Tend auxiliary equipment such as water treatment and refrigeration units, and heat exchangers.
• Add chemicals and solutions to tanks to ensure that specifications are met.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Adjustable wrench sets, Air compressors, Air hammers, Auxiliary cooling systems, Boom trucks, Calibrated well rods, Chlorine analyzers, Computerized maintenance management system CMMS

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
• Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
• Wellhead Pumpers
• Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
• Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
• Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
• Chemical Plant and System Operators

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.