Gas Plant Operators
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
Median pay: $87,820/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -8.8% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 1,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Gas Plant Operators?
The median pay for Gas Plant Operators is $87,820 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Gas Plant Operators?
Employment for Gas Plant Operators is projected to change -8.8% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Gas Plant Operators?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Gas Plant Operators?
About 1,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.