Gas plant operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,350 | $29.50 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Mean (average) | $88,710 | $42.65 |
| 90th percentile | $115,520 | $55.54 |
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 plant operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 44 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $77,120 | $53,880 | $97,720 | ||
| Alaska | Data unavailable | 220 | 5.81 | ||
| Arizona | $104,600 | $73,720 | $112,540 | 140 | 0.38 |
| Arkansas | $100,870 | $64,940 | $103,700 | 400 | 2.68 |
| California | $130,220 | $92,610 | $140,400 | 800 | 0.38 |
| Colorado | $98,080 | $75,590 | $110,550 | 570 | 1.7 |
| Connecticut | $109,060 | $83,280 | $118,430 | ||
| Florida | $67,170 | $49,490 | $82,450 | 130 | 0.12 |
| Georgia | $81,220 | $45,180 | $114,670 | 110 | 0.2 |
| Idaho | $79,280 | $51,720 | $98,350 | 50 | 0.49 |
| Illinois | $97,810 | $51,880 | $112,700 | 530 | 0.74 |
| Indiana | $85,790 | $56,060 | $118,550 | 280 | 0.76 |
| Iowa | $92,970 | $59,840 | $100,480 | 480 | 2.65 |
| Kansas | $80,760 | $60,180 | $106,270 | 350 | 2.09 |
| Kentucky | $63,070 | $39,590 | $96,940 | 200 | 0.86 |
| Louisiana | $108,350 | $50,890 | $115,390 | 800 | 3.54 |
| Maine | $93,990 | $61,390 | $104,060 | 30 | 0.46 |
| Maryland | $102,950 | $61,920 | $107,940 | 180 | 0.58 |
| Massachusetts | $103,830 | $75,600 | $119,590 | 340 | 0.82 |
| Michigan | $100,500 | $92,190 | $121,440 | 540 | 1.07 |
| Minnesota | $100,500 | $78,320 | $100,610 | 360 | 1.06 |
| Mississippi | $81,600 | $54,310 | $90,550 | 340 | 2.5 |
| Missouri | $87,820 | $64,080 | $105,240 | 220 | 0.64 |
| Montana | $83,630 | $67,580 | $101,260 | 70 | 1.26 |
| Nebraska | $87,790 | $76,780 | $98,550 | 270 | 2.28 |
| New Jersey | $110,900 | $87,020 | $128,230 | 190 | 0.38 |
| New Mexico | $97,660 | $72,440 | $108,670 | 300 | 3.01 |
| New York | $98,390 | $70,460 | $119,950 | 240 | 0.21 |
| North Carolina | $81,460 | $62,120 | $113,860 | 320 | 0.55 |
| North Dakota | $96,760 | $76,570 | $129,410 | 770 | 15.56 |
| Ohio | $82,130 | $56,890 | $101,520 | 570 | 0.88 |
| Oklahoma | $78,310 | $59,750 | $97,560 | 970 | 4.9 |
| Oregon | $109,760 | $86,210 | $125,590 | 70 | 0.33 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,810 | $62,060 | $102,060 | 1,370 | 1.95 |
| South Carolina | $67,580 | $45,870 | $89,960 | 280 | 1.06 |
| South Dakota | $101,450 | $83,530 | $104,660 | 90 | 1.65 |
| Tennessee | $66,560 | $58,920 | $95,260 | 200 | 0.54 |
| Texas | $79,910 | $61,990 | $98,840 | 2,550 | 1.57 |
| Utah | $98,300 | $83,510 | $102,600 | 160 | 0.81 |
| Virginia | $86,500 | $73,520 | $100,430 | 400 | 0.84 |
| Washington | $83,650 | $48,610 | $127,810 | 120 | 0.29 |
| West Virginia | $82,600 | $52,000 | $100,460 | 420 | 5.22 |
| Wisconsin | $85,080 | $60,880 | $106,270 | 150 | 0.43 |
| Wyoming | $81,550 | $66,980 | $110,220 | 480 | 14.64 |
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 plant operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. 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 plant operators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-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
- Petroleum Technology/Technician CIP 15.0903
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Google Android (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- AspenTech HYSYS
- Operating log software
- Quorum PGAS
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Work scheduling software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Compressor Technician (Compressor Tech), Engine Room Operator, Gas Controller, Gas Dispatcher, Gas Plant Operator, Gas Resource Control Operator, Gas System Operator, Liquefied Natural Gas Technician (LNG Technician), Liquid Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator), Plant 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 plant operators make?
The national median annual wage for gas plant operators was $87,820 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $61,350 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $115,520. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do gas plant 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 long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is gas plant operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of gas plant operators to change -6.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay gas plant operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($130,220), New Jersey ($110,900), Oregon ($109,760). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.