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Gas plant operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $61,350lowest 10% earn less
- $76,87025th percentile
- $87,820median
- $100,87075th percentile
- $115,520top 10% earn more
Gas plant operators had a median pay of $87,820 a year in May 2025, well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to shrink between 2025 and 2035[3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- -6%[3]
- Openings per year
- 1,400[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do gas plant operators make?
In May 2025, the median wage for gas plant operators was $87,820 a year, or $42.22 an hour[1]. The mean (average) was $88,710 a year, or $42.65 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].
The table shows how pay spreads across the job.
| Point in the range | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4][8] | $61,350 | $29.50 |
| 25th percentile[4][8] | $76,870 | $36.96 |
| Median[1] | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| 75th percentile[4][8] | $100,870 | $48.49 |
| 90th percentile[4][8] | $115,520 | $55.54 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $61,350 a year[4]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $115,520[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].
These figures cover part-time and full-time wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].
Pay by state and city
Among the 43 states with published data, California had the highest median at $130,220[11]. New Jersey came next at $110,900, then Oregon at $109,760[11]. Kentucky had the lowest at $63,070[11].
Texas had the most jobs at 2,550, followed by Pennsylvania at 1,370 and Oklahoma at 970[12]. Their medians were $79,910 in Texas, $80,810 in Pennsylvania and $78,310 in Oklahoma[11].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the highest median at $125,550, then New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $118,870[13]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX had the most jobs at 1,510, with a median of $85,530[14].
Show median pay in 43 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| California[11] | $130,220 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $110,900 | 190 |
| Oregon | $109,760 | 70 |
| Connecticut | $109,060 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $108,350 | 800 |
| Arizona | $104,600 | 140 |
| Massachusetts | $103,830 | 340 |
| Maryland | $102,950 | 180 |
| South Dakota | $101,450 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $100,870 | 400 |
| Michigan | $100,500 | 540 |
| Minnesota | $100,500 | 360 |
| New York | $98,390 | 240 |
| Utah | $98,300 | 160 |
| Colorado | $98,080 | 570 |
| Illinois | $97,810 | 530 |
| New Mexico | $97,660 | 300 |
| North Dakota | $96,760 | 770 |
| Maine | $93,990 | 30 |
| Iowa | $92,970 | 480 |
| Missouri | $87,820 | 220 |
| Nebraska | $87,790 | 270 |
| Virginia | $86,500 | 400 |
| Indiana | $85,790 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $85,080 | 150 |
| Washington | $83,650 | 120 |
| Montana | $83,630 | 70 |
| West Virginia | $82,600 | 420 |
| Ohio | $82,130 | 570 |
| Mississippi | $81,600 | 340 |
| Wyoming | $81,550 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $81,460 | 320 |
| Georgia | $81,220 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,810 | 1,370 |
| Kansas | $80,760 | 350 |
| Texas | $79,910 | 2,550 |
| Idaho | $79,280 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $78,310 | 970 |
| Alabama | $77,120 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $67,580 | 280 |
| Florida | $67,170 | 130 |
| Tennessee | $66,560 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $63,070 | 200 |
How to become a gas plant operator
The facts for this job describe a short list of steps.
- First: have a high school diploma or equivalent. BLS lists it as the typical entry education, and no related work experience is needed[6].
- Next: train on the job. BLS lists long-term on-the-job training as typical[6].
In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 58% said a high school diploma or equivalent was the education required[15]. Another 31% named a post-secondary certificate[15] and 11% an associate degree or other 2-year degree[15].
O*NET places the job in a group where some jobs need little previous experience and others need several months to a year[16].
What gas plant operators do
These workers move and process gas for utilities and other customers, and they control compressors to hold pipeline pressure at set levels[17]. Sample job titles include gas controller, gas dispatcher and LNG technician[18]. O*NET lists these tasks:
- Watch gauges for temperature, level and flow, and run regular checks to confirm equipment works properly[19].
- Run panel boards, control boards and semi-automatic equipment to supply gas to utilities or industrial plants[19].
- Operate compressors, scrubbers, evaporators and refrigeration equipment to liquefy, compress or regasify natural gas[19].
- Keep logs of test results and gauge readings such as temperatures, pressures and flows[19].
- Look into the causes of unusual pressure changes and suggest fixes[19].
- Adjust temperature, pressure, flow and other settings to keep processes on target[19].
- Check that flammable and other hazardous products are stored and moved under safety guidelines[19].
- Start and shut down plant equipment, and work with other operators on problems[19].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of gas plant operators to fall 6% between 2025 and 2035, from about 18,200 to 17,100 jobs[3]. That is a loss of about 1,100 jobs, and the counts include self-employed workers[3]. Employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[20].
Still, BLS projects about 1,400 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.4% of workers leave the labor force and 6% move to a different occupation[21].
BLS names productivity change as a factor. Better process controls need less hands-on monitoring and approval from operators because of automation, so their share of work falls[22].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is high compared with all occupations, and the entry education is a high school diploma with no related experience[1][2][6]. The trade-off is the training, which BLS lists as long-term on-the-job[6]. The job count is projected to shrink, with automation named as a factor[3][22]. Openings still come up each year as people leave the occupation[5][21].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a gas plant operator make an hour?
- The median wage was $42.22 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $42.65[1][7].
- What education do you need to be a gas plant operator?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, plus long-term on-the-job training[6].
- What is the highest paying state for gas plant operators?
- California had the highest state median at $130,220, followed by New Jersey at $110,900[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Gas Plant Operators in the US was $87,820 per year and $42.22 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Gas Plant Operators is projected to decline 6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,200 to 17,100 jobs (a change of -1,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Gas Plant Operators: 10th percentile $61,350, 25th percentile $76,870, 75th percentile $100,870, 90th percentile $115,520. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,400 openings for Gas Plant Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Gas Plant Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Gas Plant Operators was $88,710 per year and $42.65 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Gas Plant Operators: 10th percentile $29.50, 25th percentile $36.96, 75th percentile $48.49, 90th percentile $55.54. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Gas Plant Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Gas Plant Operators jobs: Texas 2,550; Pennsylvania 1,370; Oklahoma 970; California 800; Louisiana 800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Gas Plant Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $125,550; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $118,870; Baton Rouge, LA $113,570; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $108,650; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $104,770; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $102,810; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $100,500; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $99,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Gas Plant Operators jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,510 (median $85,530); Pittsburgh, PA 440 (median $81,600); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 360 (median $98,640); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 340 (median $102,810); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 290 (median $108,650); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 290 (median $100,500). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-8092.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 58%, Post-Secondary Certificate 31%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-8092.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Gas Plant Operators. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-8092.00 sample job titles reported by workers: 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). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Gas Plant Operators. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Gas Plant Operators: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Gas Plant Operators: Productivity change - share decreases as improved process controls require less direct management, monitoring, and approval from operators due to automation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.