BlissPoint Analytics

Occupation AtlasWellhead Pumpers

O*NET · 53-7073.00

Wellhead Pumpers

Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.

Also called Field Operator · Gas Lease Pumper · Gas Well Pumper · Lease Attendant · Lease Operator · Oil Field Operator · Oil Field Plant Operator · Oil Field Pumper
11 more

Oil Field Technician · Oil Field Worker · Oil Pumper · Oil Well Pumper · Oil Well Service Operator · Oilfield Plant Operator · Pumper · Well Field Technician · Well Head Pumper · Well Tender · Wellhead Pumper

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Pile Driver Operators

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic6.92
  • C Conventional4.29
  • I Investigative2.26
  • E Enterprising1.77
  • S Social1.11
  • A Artistic1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma1%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent81%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate11%
  • Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree7%
Related work experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (29%)
On-site or in-plant training
Up to and including 1 month (35%)
On-the-job training
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months (25%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Operations Monitoring4.03.9Level 4 looks like: Monitor machine functions on an automated production line
  • Operation and Control3.93.9Level 4 looks like: Adjust the speed of assembly line equipment based on the product being assembled
  • Repairing3.13.8Level 4 looks like: Replace a faulty hydraulic valve
  • Equipment Maintenance3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Clean moving parts in production machinery
  • Monitoringbasic3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
  • Troubleshooting3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.12.9Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Speakingbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Complex Problem Solving3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Active Listeningbasic2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.82.9Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
Show the other 23
  • Time Management2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Writingbasic2.62.1Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Social Perceptiveness2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Quality Control Analysis2.42.5Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Active Learningbasic2.42.1Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Coordination2.32.4Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Equipment Selection2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Mathematicsbasic2.31.6Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Instructing2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Management of Personnel Resources2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Systems Analysis2.01.4Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Systems Evaluation2.01.4Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Persuasion2.01.3Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Negotiation2.01.0Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Learning Strategiesbasic1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Service Orientation1.91.3Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Management of Material Resources1.80.9
  • Technology Design1.50.5
  • Management of Financial Resources1.40.4
  • Operations Analysis1.40.4
  • Installation1.3—
  • Programming1.3—
  • Sciencebasic1.1—

Tasks

7 core · 7 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks.4.6
  2. Gauge oil and gas production.4.5
  3. Monitor control panels during pumping operations to ensure that materials are being pumped at the correct pressure, density, rate, and concentration.4.3
  4. Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks.4.3
  5. Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil.4.3
  6. Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.4.0
  7. Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment.3.8
Show the other 7
  1. Open valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize them and force oil to surface.4.2
  2. Change water filters.4.0
  3. Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required.3.9
  4. Attach pumps and hoses to wellheads.3.8
  5. Mix acids, chemicals, or dry cement as required for a specific job.3.8
  6. Unload and assemble pipes and pumping equipment, using hand tools.3.7
  7. Supervise oil pumpers and other workers engaged in producing oil from wells.3.7

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Mechanical3.74.3Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Mathematics3.03.2Level 4 looks like: Analyze data to determine areas with the highest sales
  • Administrative2.92.9
  • Chemistry2.83.3Level 4 looks like: Use the proper concentration of chlorine to purify a water source
  • Production and Processing2.82.5Level 1 looks like: Put a computer back into its packing materials
  • English Language2.71.9Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Computers and Electronics2.63.0Level 4 looks like: Use a computer to format a document
  • Public Safety and Security2.62.5Level 1 looks like: Use a seatbelt
Show all 33
  • Administration and Management2.52.5Level 1 looks like: Approve a reimbursement request
  • Building and Construction2.42.8
  • Design2.42.5Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
  • Education and Training2.42.1Level 1 looks like: Show someone how to bowl
  • Law and Government2.42.1Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.42.1Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Engineering and Technology2.32.6
  • Physics2.32.5Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
  • Transportation2.31.9Level 1 looks like: Ride a train to work
  • Biology1.91.3Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
  • Customer and Personal Service1.91.4Level 1 looks like: Process a customer's dry-cleaning drop off
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.71.3Level 1 looks like: Use a band-aid
  • Telecommunications1.71.2Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Psychology1.61.2Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Economics and Accounting1.50.9Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Geography1.51.0Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Communications and Media1.3—
  • Sales and Marketing1.3—
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.3—
  • Therapy and Counseling1.30.7Level 1 looks like: Put ice on a sprained ankle
  • Food Production1.2—
  • Foreign Language1.2—
  • History and Archeology1.2—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.1—
  • Fine Arts1.0—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Problem Sensitivity3.93.3Level 4 looks like: Notice from a subtle difference in a client's mood that something is bothering them
  • Near Vision3.53.3Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Control Precision3.34.0Level 4 looks like: Adjust farm tractor controls
  • Information Ordering3.33.0Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Multilimb Coordination3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Operate a forklift truck in a warehouse
  • Reaction Time3.33.5Level 4 looks like: Press a button to stop operation when a warning light goes off
  • Deductive Reasoning3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Inductive Reasoning3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
Show all 52
  • Manual Dexterity3.13.0Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Perceptual Speed3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Read five pressure indicators in 10 seconds to make sure each is within safe limits
  • Static Strength3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Light a candle
  • Oral Expression3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Place an order at a restaurant drive-thru
  • Response Orientation3.03.0Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
  • Speech Clarity3.02.5Level 1 looks like: Call numbers in a bingo game
  • Speech Recognition3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Trunk Strength3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Shovel snow for half an hour
  • Category Flexibility2.93.0Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Far Vision2.92.5Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Oral Comprehension2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Understand a television commercial
  • Written Comprehension2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Finger Dexterity2.82.9Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
  • Selective Attention2.83.1Level 4 looks like: Watch security monitors for intruders throughout the night shift
  • Stamina2.82.4Level 1 looks like: Walk 1/4 mile
  • Visualization2.83.1Level 4 looks like: Follow a diagram to assemble a metal storage cabinet
  • Written Expression2.62.4Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
  • Extent Flexibility2.53.1Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
  • Gross Body Equilibrium2.52.9Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Dynamic Strength2.42.4Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Flexibility of Closure2.42.3Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Auditory Attention2.32.6Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Gross Body Coordination2.32.6Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Rate Control2.32.1Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Time Sharing2.32.3Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
  • Depth Perception2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
  • Fluency of Ideas2.11.9Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Mathematical Reasoning2.11.4Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Memorization2.12.1Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Number Facility2.11.6Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Originality2.11.8Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Spatial Orientation2.11.9Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Speed of Closure2.11.8
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.11.6Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Hearing Sensitivity2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
  • Peripheral Vision2.01.3Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Visual Color Discrimination2.01.6Level 1 looks like: Separate laundry into colors and whites
  • Glare Sensitivity1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Speed of Limb Movement1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Explosive Strength1.80.9
  • Sound Localization1.80.8
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.60.8
  • Night Vision1.60.8

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Documenting/Recording Information4.33.9Level 4 looks like: Document the results of a crime scene investigation
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.34.2Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.14.2Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Controlling Machines and Processes4.14.5Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.14.0Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.14.5Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.14.0Level 4 looks like: Drive an 18-wheel tractor-trailer
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.03.6Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
Show all 41
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment3.94.5Level 4 looks like: Change the oil on a tractor
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.84.5Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Performing General Physical Activities3.85.0Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Processing Information3.84.3Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
  • Analyzing Data or Information3.73.8Level 4 looks like: Determine the interest cost to finance a new building
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information3.73.3Level 4 looks like: Estimate the time required to evacuate a city in the event of a major disaster
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.73.6Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
  • Getting Information3.53.5Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Training and Teaching Others3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Teach a social sciences course to high school students
  • Working with Computers3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Write software for keeping track of parts in inventory
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.43.8Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Handling and Moving Objects3.34.8Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.33.6Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
  • Thinking Creatively3.33.5Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.33.9Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Coaching and Developing Others3.23.3Level 4 looks like: Provide on-the-job training for administrative workers
  • Developing and Building Teams3.23.1Level 4 looks like: Lead an assembly team in an automobile plant
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources3.22.9
  • Assisting and Caring for Others3.03.0Level 4 looks like: Help a medical patient find in-home assistance or healthcare
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others3.02.9
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.03.3Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies2.92.6
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates2.92.8
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others2.83.3Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.82.8
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.82.6
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization2.72.4Level 1 looks like: Have little contact with people outside the organization
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment2.72.4Level 1 looks like: Use display settings to adjust a television picture
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.52.5Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public2.52.3Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.42.1Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Selling or Influencing Others2.21.9Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
  • Staffing Organizational Units1.91.7Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Exposed to Contaminants5.0
  • In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment5.0
  • Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions5.0
  • Telephone Conversations5.0
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0
  • Exposed to Hazardous Conditions4.8
  • Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals4.6
  • Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures4.5
  • Freedom to Make Decisions4.5
  • Frequency of Decision Making4.4

Technology

8 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (5)

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software
Other tools (3)
  • Moxa software
  • Operational databases
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
  2. Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
  3. Gas Plant Operators
  4. Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
  5. Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
  6. Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
  7. Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
  8. Power Plant Operators
  9. Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
  10. Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.