Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Wages
In 2015, the average annual wage in a Alabama was $42,300 with most people making betweeen $33,920 and $48,360
Wages by Industry
  • Support Activities for Mining $47,670.00
  • Oil and Gas Extraction $46,250.00
  • Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing $49,130.00
  • Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers $45,420.00
  • Basic Chemical Manufacturing $49,760.00
  • Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers $31,560.00
Education Required
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Common Majors
  • no information available
About the job

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.

What you'll do
    • Add chemicals and solutions to tanks to ensure that specifications are met.
    • Clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment.
    • Collect and deliver sample solutions for laboratory analysis.
    • Connect hoses and pipelines to pumps and vessels prior to material transfer, using hand tools.
    • 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.
    • Pump two or more materials into one tank to blend mixtures.
    • Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
    • Tend auxiliary equipment such as water treatment and refrigeration units, and heat exchangers.
    • Test materials and solutions, using testing equipment.
    • Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
Things you need to know
    • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
    • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Abilities you'll need to have
    • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
    • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
    • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
    • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
    • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
    • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
    • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.