Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators vs Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers: $77K vs $62K Median Pay

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators vs Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers: what changes?

Consider Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators if you want to operate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors. Consider Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers if you would rather 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. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators

National median pay (2025): $77,320
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Monitor meters and pressure gauges to determine consumption rate variations, temperatures, and pressures.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 300

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (3,500 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators brief

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

National median pay (2025): $61,770
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: 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.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,000

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (9,800 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers brief

How the national numbers differ

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers has the edge on projected growth

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers is at 4.3% projected growth, compared with 2.1% projected growth for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators.

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators has the edge on median pay

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is at $77,320, compared with $61,770 for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers.

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers has the edge on annual openings

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers is at 1,000 annual openings, compared with 300 annual openings for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators.

44.3/ 100

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators

49.2/ 100

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators vs Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Dimension	Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators	Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Median pay (2025)	$77,320	$61,770
Pay percentile	68.1 percentile	50.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	2.1%	4.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	300	1,000
2025 employment	3,500	9,800
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators brief Read Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers brief

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators vs Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

How the national numbers differ

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers has the edge on projected growth

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators has the edge on median pay

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers has the edge on annual openings

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators vs Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Try another comparison

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators vs Dredge Operators

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators vs Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers vs Dredge Operators