Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $77,320 | $37.17 |
| Mean (average) | $74,610 | $35.87 |
| 90th percentile | $99,510 | $47.84 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 22 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,440 | $38,910 | $75,050 | 60 | 1.32 |
| Alaska | $106,440 | $72,720 | $134,860 | 60 | 8.17 |
| Colorado | $76,200 | $52,510 | $89,370 | ||
| Indiana | $100,280 | $91,520 | $106,230 | 40 | 0.56 |
| Kansas | $107,730 | $102,430 | $131,620 | 50 | 1.58 |
| Louisiana | $79,970 | $50,340 | $100,420 | 60 | 1.41 |
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 30 | 0.43 | ||
| Michigan | $78,240 | $56,890 | $110,060 | 40 | 0.45 |
| Montana | $83,750 | $80,560 | $97,450 | 100 | 8.95 |
| Nebraska | $64,620 | $47,210 | $82,840 | 40 | 1.53 |
| New York | $59,040 | $43,780 | $63,200 | 60 | 0.3 |
| Ohio | $85,930 | $78,890 | $103,190 | 120 | 0.94 |
| Oklahoma | $82,150 | $40,260 | $116,390 | 140 | 3.6 |
| Oregon | $51,150 | $49,730 | $62,880 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $60,170 | $50,060 | $87,870 | 300 | 2.19 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $21,840 | $35,720 | 50 | 2.33 |
| South Dakota | $44,440 | $37,110 | $78,800 | ||
| Tennessee | $45,350 | $39,620 | $60,220 | ||
| Texas | $82,120 | $57,270 | $94,740 | 1,350 | 4.26 |
| Virginia | $64,990 | $36,820 | $98,000 | 40 | 0.38 |
| Washington | $57,500 | $42,830 | $69,760 | 120 | 1.44 |
| West Virginia | $65,050 | $45,280 | $88,120 | 200 | 12.49 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Monitor meters and pressure gauges to determine consumption rate variations, temperatures, and pressures.
- 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.
- Adjust valves and equipment to obtain specified performance.
- Move controls and turn valves to start compressor engines, pumps, and auxiliary equipment.
- Operate power-driven pumps that transfer liquids, semi-liquids, gases, or powdered materials.
- Submit daily reports on facility operations.
- Take samples of gases and conduct chemical tests to determine gas quality and sulfur or moisture content, or send samples to laboratories for analysis.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Programmable logic controller PLC software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Compressor Operator, Compressor Station Operator, Compressor Technician, Fill Plant Operator, Filler, Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator), Pipeline Technician, Plant Operator, Terminal Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do gas compressor and gas pumping station operators make?
The national median annual wage for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators was $77,320 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,180 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $99,510. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do gas compressor and gas pumping station operators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is gas compressor and gas pumping station operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of gas compressor and gas pumping station operators to change +2.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay gas compressor and gas pumping station operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Kansas ($107,730), Alaska ($106,440), Indiana ($100,280). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.