Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life
Pump Operators
Pump Operators 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.
Table of Contents
Job Description
Pump Operators 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. They also 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.
Other tasks include:
- Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
- Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
- 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.
- Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
- 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.
- Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
We asked Pump Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.
61%
47%
61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.
Typical Day At Work
On a daily basis, Pump Operators record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times. They read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
A typical day for a Pump Operator will also include:
- Tend auxiliary equipment such as water treatment and refrigeration units, and heat exchangers.
- Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
- 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.
- Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
- Collect and deliver sample solutions for laboratory analysis.
We asked some Pump Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.
Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? | 62% said yes | |
How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 74% said very important | |
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 81% said yes | |
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 1% said yes | |
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 11% said yes | |
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 59% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Pump Operators also clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment. They may also pump two or more materials into one tank to blend mixtures.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Pump Operators Connect hoses and pipelines to pumps and vessels prior to material transfer, using hand tools. They might also Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
In addition, they Add chemicals and solutions to tanks to ensure that specifications are met.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them Test materials and solutions, using testing equipment.
To some Pump Operators, it is also their responsibility to 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.
Working life
More than 40 hours per week
Regular schedule like a 9 to 5
In a typical work week as a Pump Operator, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.
Is this right for me
The Builders and The Organizers
People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
Learn more about Pump Operators
Summary | |
Job Description (You are here) | |
Salary | |
Requirements | |
Quiz |
Related to Pump Operators Job Description
Pump Operators job description, what do Pump Operators do, typical day for Pump Operators, what is it like to work as a Pump Operator, how many hours do Pump Operators work, day to day work of a Pump Operator