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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

51-8092 Gas Plant Operators

Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.


National estimates for Gas Plant Operators
Industry profile for Gas Plant Operators
Geographic profile for Gas Plant Operators

National estimates for Gas Plant Operators:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Gas Plant Operators:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
14,290 5.5 % $ 37.71 $ 78,430 1.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Gas Plant Operators:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 22.21 $ 29.91 $ 38.20 $ 45.64 $ 51.78
Annual Wage (2) $ 46,190 $ 62,220 $ 79,460 $ 94,930 $ 107,700


Industry profile for Gas Plant Operators:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Gas Plant Operators are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Gas Plant Operators, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Gas Plant Operators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Natural Gas Distribution 6,200 5.66 $ 38.62 $ 80,330
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 3,530 11.27 $ 38.68 $ 80,460
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,310 0.02 $ 29.69 $ 61,760
Oil and Gas Extraction 1,280 1.26 $ 35.34 $ 73,510
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 730 0.19 $ 39.26 $ 81,660

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Gas Plant Operators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 3,530 11.27 $ 38.68 $ 80,460
Natural Gas Distribution 6,200 5.66 $ 38.62 $ 80,330
Oil and Gas Extraction 1,280 1.26 $ 35.34 $ 73,510
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 730 0.19 $ 39.26 $ 81,660
Waste Treatment and Disposal 110 0.11 $ 24.66 $ 51,290

Top paying industries for Gas Plant Operators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) (8) (8) $ 47.17 $ 98,120
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 80 0.08 $ 44.40 $ 92,340
Management of Companies and Enterprises 400 0.01 $ 42.91 $ 89,250
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 730 0.19 $ 39.26 $ 81,660
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 3,530 11.27 $ 38.68 $ 80,460


Geographic profile for Gas Plant Operators:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Gas Plant Operators are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Gas Plant Operators, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of gas plant operators by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Gas Plant Operators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 2,330 0.18 1.85 $ 38.94 $ 80,990
California 1,010 0.06 0.59 $ 50.28 $ 104,580
Pennsylvania 830 0.14 1.48 $ 37.11 $ 77,180
Virginia 740 0.19 1.99 $ 38.84 $ 80,790
North Dakota 610 1.52 15.69 $ 46.43 $ 96,570


Map of location quotient of gas plant operators by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Gas Plant Operators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Wyoming 540 2.02 20.86 $ 38.18 $ 79,400
North Dakota 610 1.52 15.69 $ 46.43 $ 96,570
New Mexico 350 0.43 4.42 $ 37.27 $ 77,520
Mississippi 370 0.33 3.42 $ 30.75 $ 63,950
Oklahoma 480 0.30 3.09 $ 33.98 $ 70,670


Map of annual mean wages of gas plant operators by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Gas Plant Operators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 1,010 0.06 0.59 $ 50.28 $ 104,580
Utah 100 0.06 0.61 $ 47.04 $ 97,840
North Dakota 610 1.52 15.69 $ 46.43 $ 96,570
Michigan 340 0.08 0.82 $ 44.34 $ 92,230
New Jersey 290 0.07 0.72 $ 43.43 $ 90,330



Map of employment of gas plant operators by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Gas Plant Operators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 960 0.31 3.25 $ 40.81 $ 84,880
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 500 0.11 1.18 $ 36.94 $ 76,840
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 350 0.11 1.19 $ 43.98 $ 91,470
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 330 0.05 0.56 $ 48.99 $ 101,890
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 320 0.03 0.36 $ 44.99 $ 93,580
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 270 0.07 0.74 $ 38.47 $ 80,020
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 200 0.07 0.75 $ 37.21 $ 77,400
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 180 0.11 1.18 $ 40.04 $ 83,270
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 180 0.12 1.22 $ 45.45 $ 94,530
Tulsa, OK 180 0.41 4.27 $ 35.18 $ 73,160


Map of location quotient of gas plant operators by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Gas Plant Operators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Casper, WY 40 1.00 10.40 $ 37.13 $ 77,230
Corpus Christi, TX 140 0.77 8.01 $ 46.33 $ 96,360
Tuscaloosa, AL 60 0.58 6.04 $ 37.53 $ 78,060
Canton-Massillon, OH 70 0.44 4.58 $ 22.76 $ 47,350
Tulsa, OK 180 0.41 4.27 $ 35.18 $ 73,160
Longview, TX 40 0.40 4.18 $ 35.39 $ 73,600
Charlottesville, VA 40 0.32 3.34 $ 33.89 $ 70,500
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 960 0.31 3.25 $ 40.81 $ 84,880
Columbia, SC 80 0.22 2.31 $ 31.31 $ 65,130
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 80 0.16 1.63 $ 39.79 $ 82,760


Map of annual mean wages of gas plant operators by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Gas Plant Operators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 90 0.04 0.38 $ 58.15 $ 120,940
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 40 0.04 0.39 $ 56.49 $ 117,500
Salt Lake City, UT 50 0.07 0.72 $ 51.05 $ 106,190
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 100 0.06 0.62 $ 49.48 $ 102,920
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 330 0.05 0.56 $ 48.99 $ 101,890
Corpus Christi, TX 140 0.77 8.01 $ 46.33 $ 96,360
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 60 0.11 1.19 $ 46.28 $ 96,270
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 180 0.12 1.22 $ 45.45 $ 94,530
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 100 0.05 0.55 $ 45.37 $ 94,360
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 320 0.03 0.36 $ 44.99 $ 93,580

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Gas Plant Operators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 600 5.44 56.28 $ 46.70 $ 97,130
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 350 3.63 37.57 $ 38.64 $ 80,360
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 240 0.62 6.39 $ 34.92 $ 72,640
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 200 1.04 10.80 (8) (8)
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 180 1.15 11.93 $ 39.37 $ 81,900

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Gas Plant Operators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 600 5.44 56.28 $ 46.70 $ 97,130
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 350 3.63 37.57 $ 38.64 $ 80,360
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 150 1.76 18.24 $ 37.56 $ 78,130
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 180 1.15 11.93 $ 39.37 $ 81,900
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 200 1.04 10.80 (8) (8)

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Gas Plant Operators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 600 5.44 56.28 $ 46.70 $ 97,130
Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 50 0.53 5.49 $ 41.24 $ 85,780
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 180 1.15 11.93 $ 39.37 $ 81,900
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 350 3.63 37.57 $ 38.64 $ 80,360
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 150 1.76 18.24 $ 37.56 $ 78,130


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023