Pipeline pump operator
Also known as: pipeline goods transfer operator, oil transfer operator, pipeline tender, pipe tender, gas transfer operator, pump tender
About this occupation
Pipeline pump operators tend pump equipment and systems to transfer liquids and substances (e.g. such as chemical solutions, crude oil, gases, and others) from one point to the next. They operate hoses, pumps, and other equipment according to the good to be transferred. They ensure smooth circulation and flow of the goods in the pipelines.
Essential skills and knowledge
- transfer oil
- have a high level of safety awareness
- pipeline coating properties
- monitor gauge
- regulate the flow of substances in pipelines
- maintain tanks
- apply health and safety standards
- mechanical engineering
- mechanics
- maintain pipeline coating properties
- pump products
- use rigging equipment
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (O*NET 51-8093.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
- Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled.
- Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Start pumps and open valves or use automated equipment to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and into and out of tanks.
- Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving
US median pay: US$96,710 a year (2025), 33,160 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (3.5)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.5)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.2)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Gas Plant Operators
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
- Wellhead Pumpers
- Power Plant Operators
- Chemical Plant and System Operators
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.