Gas Plant Operators
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
Also called: Compressor Technician (Compressor Tech) · Engine Room Operator · Gas Controller · Gas Dispatcher · Gas Plant Operator · Gas Resource Control Operator
Median pay (national)
$83,400
$59,040–$109,350 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
15,910
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-8.8%
~1,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for gas plant operators shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $109,350 versus $59,040 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $83,400 leaves roughly 31% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -8.8% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 1,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 43 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $124,980, +50% vs the national median), while Kentucky sits lowest at $62,920 — a 99% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Google Android, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Contact maintenance crews when necessary.
- Signal or direct workers who tend auxiliary equipment.
- Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
- Record, review, and compile operations records, test results, and gauge readings such as temperatures, pressures, concentrations, and flows.
- 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.
- Start and shut down plant equipment.
- Read logsheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions.
Tools & technology
- Google Android
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- SAP software
- AspenTech HYSYS
- Operating log software
- Quorum PGAS
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Work scheduling software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service