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Pump Operators

Also called: Outside Operator, Pipeline Operator, Pumper, Tank Farm Operator

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What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.
  • Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
  • 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.

Knowledge

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Engineering and Technology
  • mechanical
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking
Visual Understanding
  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
  • see hidden patterns
Hand and Finger Use
  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady
Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Analytical Thinking

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Facilities management software
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office software Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
bachelor's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Certifications Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$49,580
$34,120
$79,830
Check out my state Local Salary Info Find Jobs

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about pump operators.