51 Series · SOC 51-8092
Gas Plant Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $87,820
- Median / year
- $115,520
- Top 10% earn
- -8.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 18,030
- US workers
Gas Plant Operators earn a median of $87,820 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $87,820, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $61,350 (10th percentile) to $115,520 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 18,030 US workers. California pays the most ($130,220), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Gas Plant Operators earn a median of $87,820, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 77% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #5 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 8.8% by 2033.
- $87,820
- Median annual wage
- Top 23%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #5 of 105
- in Production
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $130,220. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Gas Plant Operators (SOC 51-8092) pays a national median of $87,820 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $61,350 at the 10th percentile to $115,520 at the 90th, with a mean of $88,710 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 18,030 Americans work in this occupation across 43 reporting states and 87 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -8.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and long-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $130,220, which is +48% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $125,550 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$87,820
per year
Median Hourly
$42.22/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$88,710
average
Employment
18,030
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Gas Plant Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$87,820 Top 23% higher than 77% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Gas Plant Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Gas Plant Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -8.8% growth and $87,820 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-8.8%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Gas Plant Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Monitor transportation and storage of flammable and other potentially dangerous products to ensure that safety guidelines are followed.
- ▸ Start and shut down plant equipment.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$61,350
25th Percentile
$76,870
Median
$87,820
75th Percentile
$100,870
90th Percentile
$115,520
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 43 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $130,220 | +48% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $110,900 | +26% above national |
| 3 | Oregon | $109,760 | +25% above national |
| 4 | Connecticut | $109,060 | +24% above national |
| 5 | Louisiana | $108,350 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Arizona | $104,600 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $103,830 | +18% above national |
| 8 | Maryland | $102,950 | +17% above national |
| 9 | South Dakota | $101,450 | +16% above national |
| 10 | Arkansas | $100,870 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Michigan | $100,500 | +14% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $100,500 | +14% above national |
| 13 | New York | $98,390 | +12% above national |
| 14 | Utah | $98,300 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Colorado | $98,080 | +12% above national |
| 16 | Illinois | $97,810 | +11% above national |
| 17 | New Mexico | $97,660 | +11% above national |
| 18 | North Dakota | $96,760 | +10% above national |
| 19 | Maine | $93,990 | +7% above national |
| 20 | Iowa | $92,970 | +6% above national |
| 21 | Missouri | $87,820 | same as national |
| 22 | Nebraska | $87,790 | same as national |
| 23 | Virginia | $86,500 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Indiana | $85,790 | 2% below national |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $85,080 | 3% below national |
| 26 | Washington | $83,650 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Montana | $83,630 | 5% below national |
| 28 | West Virginia | $82,600 | 6% below national |
| 29 | Ohio | $82,130 | 6% below national |
| 30 | Mississippi | $81,600 | 7% below national |
| 31 | Wyoming | $81,550 | 7% below national |
| 32 | North Carolina | $81,460 | 7% below national |
| 33 | Georgia | $81,220 | 8% below national |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $80,810 | 8% below national |
| 35 | Kansas | $80,760 | 8% below national |
| 36 | Texas | $79,910 | 9% below national |
| 37 | Idaho | $79,280 | 10% below national |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $78,310 | 11% below national |
| 39 | Alabama | $77,120 | 12% below national |
| 40 | South Carolina | $67,580 | 23% below national |
| 41 | Florida | $67,170 | 24% below national |
| 42 | Tennessee | $66,560 | 24% below national |
| 43 | Kentucky | $63,070 | 28% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 87 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,550 | +43% above national |
| 2 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $124,480 | +42% above national |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $118,870 | +35% above national |
| 4 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $118,640 | +35% above national |
| 5 | Baton Rouge, LA | $113,570 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $108,650 | +24% above national |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $104,770 | +19% above national |
| 8 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $104,440 | +19% above national |
| 9 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,810 | +17% above national |
| 10 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $102,390 | +17% above national |
| 11 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $100,870 | +15% above national |
| 12 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $100,500 | +14% above national |
| 13 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $100,020 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,880 | +14% above national |
| 15 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,900 | +13% above national |
| 16 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $98,640 | +12% above national |
| 17 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $97,660 | +11% above national |
| 18 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $97,080 | +11% above national |
| 19 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $97,030 | +10% above national |
| 20 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $95,430 | +9% above national |
| 21 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $95,260 | +8% above national |
| 22 | York-Hanover, PA | $94,170 | +7% above national |
| 23 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $93,510 | +6% above national |
| 24 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $92,970 | +6% above national |
| 25 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $92,210 | +5% above national |
| 26 | Omaha, NE-IA | $91,320 | +4% above national |
| 27 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $89,430 | +2% above national |
| 28 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $89,140 | +2% above national |
| 29 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $89,070 | +1% above national |
| 30 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $88,910 | +1% above national |
| 31 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $88,460 | +1% above national |
| 32 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $87,640 | same as national |
| 33 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $87,370 | 1% below national |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | $86,290 | 2% below national |
| 35 | Charleston, WV | $85,790 | 2% below national |
| 36 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $85,530 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $85,350 | 3% below national |
| 38 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $84,850 | 3% below national |
| 39 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $83,630 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $83,110 | 5% below national |
| 41 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $82,720 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $82,700 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Columbia, SC | $81,960 | 7% below national |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | $81,700 | 7% below national |
| 45 | Pittsburgh, PA | $81,600 | 7% below national |
| 46 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $81,580 | 7% below national |
| 47 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $81,550 | 7% below national |
| 48 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $81,430 | 7% below national |
| 49 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $81,350 | 7% below national |
| 50 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $81,290 | 7% below national |
| 51 | Greeley, CO | $80,950 | 8% below national |
| 52 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $80,740 | 8% below national |
| 53 | Birmingham, AL | $80,280 | 9% below national |
| 54 | Jackson, MS | $80,270 | 9% below national |
| 55 | Mobile, AL | $80,230 | 9% below national |
| 56 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $80,190 | 9% below national |
| 57 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $80,010 | 9% below national |
| 58 | Midland, TX | $79,910 | 9% below national |
| 59 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $79,770 | 9% below national |
| 60 | Boise City, ID | $79,280 | 10% below national |
| 61 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $79,190 | 10% below national |
| 62 | Spartanburg, SC | $79,170 | 10% below national |
| 63 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $79,050 | 10% below national |
| 64 | Wichita, KS | $78,950 | 10% below national |
| 65 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $78,870 | 10% below national |
| 66 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $78,730 | 10% below national |
| 67 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $78,570 | 11% below national |
| 68 | Tulsa, OK | $78,550 | 11% below national |
| 69 | Oklahoma City, OK | $78,310 | 11% below national |
| 70 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $78,110 | 11% below national |
| 71 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $77,770 | 11% below national |
| 72 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $77,760 | 11% below national |
| 73 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $77,130 | 12% below national |
| 74 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $77,020 | 12% below national |
| 75 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $77,020 | 12% below national |
| 76 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $76,960 | 12% below national |
| 77 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $76,760 | 13% below national |
| 78 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $74,230 | 15% below national |
| 79 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $73,390 | 16% below national |
| 80 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $66,970 | 24% below national |
| 81 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,560 | 24% below national |
| 82 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $60,920 | 31% below national |
| 83 | Toledo, OH | $57,530 | 34% below national |
| 84 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $57,080 | 35% below national |
| 85 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $49,120 | 44% below national |
| 86 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,150 | 47% below national |
| 87 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,930 | 48% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Gas Plant Operators make? ▼
What state pays Gas Plant Operators the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Gas Plant Operators? ▼
How dangerous is being a Gas Plant Operators? ▼
Is Gas Plant Operators a good career? ▼
How does Gas Plant Operators pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Gas Plant Operators? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Gas Plant Operators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $100,870/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $130,220/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.