Career comparison
Roustabout vs. Wellhead Pumper
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Wellhead pumpers earn more at the median ($69,960 vs. $46,960), while roustabouts usually get to work faster (1–3 months of training). Roustabouts build, maintain and repair oil and gas sites and equipment. Wellhead pumpers keep oil and gas wells producing by checking and adjusting pumps and equipment.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Roustabout | Wellhead Pumper | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $46,960 ($22.58/hr) | $69,960 ($33.63/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,420 – $64,530 | $44,100 – $98,170 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.6% (about as fast as average) | -2.0% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 4,100 | 1,700 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–3 months | Under 5 years of experience |
| Key credential | SafeLand USA | SafeLand USA |
| Work setting | Roustabouts work outdoors at well sites, tank batteries and yards, often in remote areas and harsh weather.. | Pumpers work outdoors at well sites and drive long distances, often alone in rural areas.. |
What each job does
Roustabout
- Assemble and repair oilfield equipment
- Lay and repair pipelines
- Dig and backfill trenches
- Clean tanks and equipment
- Load and unload materials
Wellhead Pumper
- Check wells on a daily route
- Gauge tanks and record production
- Adjust pumps, chokes and timers
- Inspect for leaks and spills
- Perform minor maintenance
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors and hands-on work. Both are part of the energy & utilities field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose roustabout if…
- I want to start without experience
- I don’t mind hard physical work
- I like working outdoors
Choose wellhead pumper if…
- I like working independently
- I enjoy driving and being outdoors
- I’m reliable and organized
Still torn? Take the Roustabout fit quiz and the Wellhead Pumper fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, roustabout or wellhead pumper?
Wellhead Pumpers earn more at the median: $69,960 versus $46,960 for roustabouts, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Roustabouts typically train faster (1–3 months) than wellhead pumpers (Under 5 years of experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects roustabouts to grow +3.6% from 2025–35, compared with -2.0% for wellhead pumpers.