What You Need to Know About Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator
Job Description: Operate steam, gas, electric motor, or internal combustion engine driven compressors. Transmit, compress, or recover gases, such as butane, nitrogen, hydrogen, and natural gas.
A Day in the Life of a Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator
- Clean, lubricate, and adjust equipment, and replace filters and gaskets, using hand tools.
- Take samples of gases and conduct chemical tests to determine gas quality and sulfur or moisture content, or send samples to laboratories for analysis.
- Respond to problems by adjusting control room equipment or instructing other personnel to adjust equipment at problem locations or in other control areas.
- Record instrument readings and operational changes in operating logs.
- Move controls and turn valves to start compressor engines, pumps, and auxiliary equipment.
- Read gas meters, and maintain records of the amounts of gas received and dispensed from holders.
Skills Needed to be a Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator
These are the skills Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
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.
Other Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator Job Titles
- Gas Plant Operator
- Gas Transfer Operator
- Gas Engineer
- Butane Compressor Operator
- Pipeline Systems Operator
Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 3,900 jobs for Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.6% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 100 new jobs for Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 500 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator are North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Watch out if you plan on working in Montana, Nebraska, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators Salary
The average yearly salary of a Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator ranges between $40,220 and $82,450.
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators who work in Ohio, Nebraska, or North Dakota, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $70,490 |
| Colorado | $58,480 |
| Florida | $49,690 |
| Illinois | $66,630 |
| Iowa | $53,700 |
| Kansas | $62,990 |
| Louisiana | $57,040 |
| Maine | $41,580 |
| Maryland | $66,360 |
| Massachusetts | $64,440 |
| Missouri | $48,710 |
| Montana | $63,850 |
| Nebraska | $69,980 |
| New Jersey | $65,930 |
| New York | $58,440 |
| North Dakota | $67,570 |
| Ohio | $71,110 |
| Oklahoma | $63,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,790 |
| Tennessee | $52,340 |
| Texas | $52,980 |
| Utah | $60,120 |
| West Virginia | $65,380 |
| Wyoming | $59,560 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data entry software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
Becoming a Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator
Are there Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators?
The table below shows the approximate number of Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator may also be interested in:
- Hunters and Trappers
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Etchers and Engravers
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
- Construction Laborers
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Those who work as a Gas Compressor or Gas Pumping Station Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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