Gas Plant Operators: Career Profile
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
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What Do Gas Plant Operators Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of gas plant operators cover:
- Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
- Distribute or process gas for utility companies or industrial plants, using panel boards, control boards, and semi-automatic equipment.
- Control operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment to liquefy, compress, or regasify natural gas.
- Control equipment to regulate flow and pressure of gas to feedlines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment.
- Record, review, and compile operations records, test results, and gauge readings such as temperatures, pressures, concentrations, and flows.
- Determine causes of abnormal pressure variances, and make corrective recommendations, such as installation of pipes to relieve overloading.
- Adjust temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of gas to maintain processes at required levels or to correct problems.
- Collaborate with other operators to solve unit problems.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful gas plant operators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Gas Plant Operators Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Bulk Gas Specialist
- Compressor Technician (Compressor Tech)
- Engine Room Operator
- Field Gauger
- Field Technician (Field Tech)
- Fuel Attendant
- Gas Controller
- Gas Dispatcher
How Many Gas Plant Operators Are There?
The U.S. employs around 408,984 gas plant operators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +2.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Gas Plant Operators
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $57,281 |
| Hourly median | $27.54 |
| 10th percentile | $40,778 |
| 25th percentile | $49,029 |
| 75th percentile | $65,532 |
| 90th percentile | $73,783 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Gas Plant Operators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $124,980 |
| Connecticut | $107,400 |
| Oregon | $106,210 |
| Louisiana | $105,030 |
| New Jersey | $104,960 |
| Maryland | $104,340 |
| Massachusetts | $100,570 |
| Michigan | $98,320 |
| South Dakota | $98,170 |
| Illinois | $95,950 |
| Utah | $95,690 |
| Arizona | $94,900 |
| New Mexico | $94,050 |
| North Dakota | $93,910 |
| Colorado | $92,420 |
| New York | $91,100 |
| Georgia | $90,610 |
| Iowa | $89,070 |
| Wisconsin | $87,170 |
| Washington | $85,870 |
| Missouri | $84,980 |
| New Hampshire | $84,800 |
| Minnesota | $84,760 |
| Indiana | $83,420 |
| Texas | $82,760 |
| Nebraska | $82,290 |
| Arkansas | $81,310 |
| South Carolina | $81,000 |
| Wyoming | $80,760 |
| West Virginia | $79,710 |
| Mississippi | $79,530 |
| Virginia | $78,780 |
| Kansas | $78,110 |
| Montana | $77,630 |
| Idaho | $76,800 |
| Oklahoma | $76,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,070 |
| North Carolina | $75,140 |
| Ohio | $74,500 |
| Alabama | $73,270 |
| Florida | $71,490 |
| Tennessee | $64,670 |
| Kentucky | $62,920 |
Where Gas Plant Operators Earn the Most
Earnings for gas plant operators shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $100,806 | 4.0% | 1.12 |
| Far Western US | $95,347 | 6.9% | 1.31 |
| Great Lakes | $88,640 | 15.4% | 1.09 |
| Rocky Mountains | $86,334 | 9.2% | 12.62 |
| Middle Atlantic | $86,222 | 9.0% | 0.89 |
| Plains States | $85,577 | 10.8% | 2.07 |
| Southeast | $83,792 | 26.1% | 3.15 |
| Southwest | $81,609 | 18.6% | 2.83 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $126,640 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $124,100 | 190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $107,810 | 240 |
| Lake Charles, LA | LA | $105,030 | 530 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $104,810 | 630 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $104,590 | 210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $104,370 | 240 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | MI | $96,900 | 50 |
Which Industries Hire Gas Plant Operators
Most gas plant operators work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 6,680 | $84,980 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 4,930 | $82,680 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,400 | $82,110 |
| Manufacturing | 1,040 | $105,030 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 400 | $89,410 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 180 | $60,420 |
| Wholesale Trade | 120 | $54,670 |
Below are examples of industries where gas plant operators work:
Tools and Technology
- Operating system software: Google Android (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of gas plant operators reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Education and Training
Most gas plant operators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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- Power Distributors and Dispatchers (Primary-Long)
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Degree Programs
Students preparing for gas plant operators typically earn programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-8092.00 (Gas Plant Operators).
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