Occupation

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Human Advantage 54%

Moderate human-AI collaboration

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.1 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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.

Also Known As: Acid Loader, Acid Pump Operator, Airveyor Operator, Boom Pump Operator, Booster Station Operator, Brewery Pumper, Caustic Pump Operator, Chemical Pumper +39 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. 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.
  2. Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
  3. 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.
  4. Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
  5. Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
  6. Connect hoses and pipelines to pumps and vessels prior to material transfer, using hand tools.
  7. 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.
  8. Clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment.
  9. Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
  10. Test materials and solutions, using testing equipment.

Supplemental Tasks (4)

  1. Tend auxiliary equipment such as water treatment and refrigeration units, and heat exchangers.
  2. Add chemicals and solutions to tanks to ensure that specifications are met.
  3. Collect and deliver sample solutions for laboratory analysis.
  4. Pump two or more materials into one tank to blend mixtures.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
61%
Bachelor's Degree
18%
Some College Courses
8%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
8%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
5%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word

Software (7)

  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Operational databases
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software

Tools & Equipment (40)

  • Adjustable wrench sets
  • Air compressors
  • Air hammers
  • Auxiliary cooling systems
  • Boom trucks
  • Calibrated well rods
  • Chlorine analyzers
  • Concrete boom pumps
  • Concrete line pumps
  • Cordless drills
  • Crane trucks
  • Digital densitometers
  • Digital flowmeters
  • Dump trucks
  • Fire pumper apparatus
  • Fluid pumps
  • Hard hats
  • Level instruments
  • Manifold systems
  • Mobile radios
  • Multipurpose hammers
  • Nitrogen pumps
  • Personal computers
  • Pickup trucks
  • Portable gas powered generators
  • Portable pumps
  • Pressure testers
  • Programmable logic controllers PLC
  • Safety goggles
  • Stationary gas powered generators
  • Stationary pumps
  • Steel-toed safety boots
  • Telemetry equipment
  • Turbidity meters
  • Turbine pumps
  • Wastewater lift stations
  • Water flow meters
  • Water retention tanks
  • Welding equipment
  • Wheeled forklifts

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Maintenance & Repair Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers You are here

Resume Builder

Select key tasks to generate action-oriented resume bullets for Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers positions.

Related Occupations

Show all 20 related occupations

Real Talk

Hear from real Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumperss about their work: