What is the salary and career path for a concrete pump operator?
Concrete pump operators sit inside the broad BLS code Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, SOC 47-2073, so the published wage is approximate and averages pump work together with dozers, excavators and loaders. That code reports an OEWS May 2025 median of $59,850 a year ($28.78 an hour), spanning $42,190 at the 10th percentile to $101,090 at the 90th, and experienced boom-pump operators on large placements typically sit in the upper half. There is no federal or state pump-operator licence; the recognised credential is American Concrete Pumping Association operator certification, and a commercial driver's licence — usually Class B or A with air brakes — is effectively mandatory because the operator drives the pump to the site. The controlling safety rules are OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart N and Subpart CC power-line clearance requirements, plus ACPA and manufacturer procedures for outrigger setup, boom operation and line-blockage clearing. BLS projects 3.6% growth over 2024–2034 with roughly 41,900 openings a year across the code.
- Concrete Pump Operators earn a national median $59,850/yr ($28.78/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2073); the top 10% clear $101,090.
- The wage is approximate: BLS has no pump-operator code and averages the role into a broad construction-equipment-operator category.
- No government licence exists — ACPA operator certification plus a commercial driver's licence are the real entry credentials.
- BLS projects 3.6% change 2024–34 with about 41,900 openings a year; pay rises with boom reach, placement complexity and ownership.
Career Path
How do you become a concrete pump operator?
Pump helper / hose hand
Running system hose, cleaning the hopper, washing out and learning the boom sequence from the ground; pay starts near the SOC 47-2073 10th percentile of $42,190.
Concrete Pump Operator
Driving, setting up and running a trailer or smaller boom pump on foundations and slabs, around the $59,850 median for the code.
Large boom operator
Running long-reach boom pumps on structural and high-rise placements pays toward the 75th percentile of $77,170.
Pump fleet supervisor / owner-operator
Dispatching a fleet, servicing pumps or owning the machine and billing by the yard reaches the 90th percentile at $101,090.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays concrete pump operators the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2073. National median: $59,850. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does concrete pump operator pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles concrete pump operators most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: concrete pump operators rank 3 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3.6% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly concrete pump operators clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2073 (concrete pump operators) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do concrete pump operators need?
The American Concrete Pumping Association's certification is the recognised competency credential in a trade with no government licence, and its safety programme sets industry practice. See all state licences →
State-issued under FMCSA rules, typically Class B with air brakes for boom pumps; without it an operator cannot get the machine to the job.
Required for site access on most commercial work and standard for operators taking on lead responsibility on placements.
Putzmeister, Schwing and Concord run machine-specific courses on boom control, hydraulic systems and blockage procedures for their pumps.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do concrete pump operators use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 47-2073
Salary Levers
How do concrete pump operators earn above the $59,850 BLS median?
Boom size and placement complexity
Long-reach boom operators on structural pours sit far above the $42,190 entry floor for the code
ACPA certification and a clean record
Certified operators with no incidents command the premium accounts and the rates near the $77,170 seventy-fifth percentile
Early-start pours and overtime
Concrete placement starts before dawn and runs until the pour is finished, so overtime hours are structural rather than occasional
Owning a pump or running a fleet
Billing by the yard with a company hourly minimum, or supervising dispatch and service, is what reaches the $101,090 top decile
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a concrete pump operator worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2073. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Concrete Pump Operator Career, Frequently Asked Questions
Concrete Pump Operator career research journey
Do your homework, then let the network do the rest.Get the job, then keep rising
FreeSet your intent, matching jobs come to you. No applying.
A roadmap to your next licence tier and higher pay band.
Once placed, we cover all certification, licence & career-guide fees.
Hiring concrete pump operators?
Get a verified shortlist of 3–5 qualified candidates in 48 hours
GlobalCybers verifies active state licenses, trade certifications, Intent and right-to-work status before any candidate reaches your portal. Flat $2,999/mo RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing), up to 3 concurrent roles, or a free trial (pay on hire). 90-day written guarantee.
Related · Concrete Pump Operator
Everything for concrete pump operators in one place
Salary data, licensing, interview prep, and hiring, all cross-linked so you (and search engines) can move through the full concrete pump operator cluster.