Gas Plant Operator Salary
Gas Plant Operators earn a median $87,820 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$87,820
$42.22 per hour
Range
$61,350 – $115,520
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
18,030
across the U.S.
▲5.3%
Pay trend: The median for gas plant operators in the U.S. rose from $83,400 (May 2024) to $87,820 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 2.9%.
What gas plant operators do
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -6.0% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 1,400
Employment of gas plant operators is projected to shrink 6.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Gas Plant Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$70,611
per year · effective tax rate 19.6%
$5,884Monthly
$2,942Twice a month
$2,716Every 2 weeks
$33.95Hourly
- Federal income tax$10,490
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,445
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,273
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$70,611
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,350 | $29.50 | $51,475 |
| 25th percentile | $76,870 | $36.96 | $62,908 |
| Median (50th) | $87,820 | $42.22 | $70,611 |
| 75th percentile | $100,870 | $48.50 | $79,792 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,520 | $55.54 | $90,098 |
Gas Plant Operator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $130,220 | +4.2% | $90,698 | $92,610 – $140,400 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $110,900 | +5.7% | $81,974 | $87,020 – $128,230 | 190 |
| Oregon | $109,760 | +3.3% | $77,272 | $86,210 – $125,590 | 70 |
| Connecticut | $109,060 | +1.5% | $81,130 | $83,280 – $118,430 | — |
| Louisiana | $108,350 | +3.2% | $82,190 | $50,890 – $115,390 | 800 |
| Arizona | $104,600 | +10.2% | $80,010 | $73,720 – $112,540 | 140 |
| Massachusetts | $103,830 | +3.2% | $76,903 | $75,600 – $119,590 | 340 |
| Maryland | $102,950 | −1.3% | $76,729 | $61,920 – $107,940 | 180 |
| South Dakota | $101,450 | +3.3% | $80,200 | $83,530 – $104,660 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $100,870 | +24.1% | $76,071 | $64,940 – $103,700 | 400 |
| Michigan | $100,500 | +2.2% | $75,511 | $92,190 – $121,440 | 540 |
| Minnesota | $100,500 | +18.6% | $74,221 | $78,320 – $100,610 | 360 |
| New York | $98,390 | +8.0% | $73,283 | $70,460 – $119,950 | 240 |
| Utah | $98,300 | +2.7% | $74,527 | $83,510 – $102,600 | 160 |
| Colorado | $98,080 | +6.1% | $74,222 | $75,590 – $110,550 | 570 |
| Illinois | $97,810 | +1.9% | $72,943 | $51,880 – $112,700 | 530 |
| New Mexico | $97,660 | +3.8% | $74,079 | $72,440 – $108,670 | 300 |
| North Dakota | $96,760 | +3.0% | $76,273 | $76,570 – $129,410 | 770 |
| Maine | $93,990 | — | $69,727 | $61,390 – $104,060 | 30 |
| Iowa | $92,970 | +4.4% | $71,353 | $59,840 – $100,480 | 480 |
| Missouri | $87,820 | +3.3% | $67,421 | $64,080 – $105,240 | 220 |
| Nebraska | $87,790 | +6.7% | $67,475 | $76,780 – $98,550 | 270 |
| Virginia | $86,500 | +9.8% | $65,523 | $73,520 – $100,430 | 400 |
| Indiana | $85,790 | +2.8% | $66,682 | $56,060 – $118,550 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $85,080 | −2.4% | $65,555 | $60,880 – $106,270 | 150 |
| Washington | $83,650 | −2.6% | $67,678 | $48,610 – $127,810 | 120 |
| Montana | $83,630 | +7.7% | $64,300 | $67,580 – $101,260 | 70 |
| West Virginia | $82,600 | +3.6% | $63,893 | $52,000 – $100,460 | 420 |
| Ohio | $82,130 | +10.2% | $65,132 | $56,890 – $101,520 | 570 |
| Mississippi | $81,600 | +2.6% | $63,704 | $54,310 – $90,550 | 340 |
| Wyoming | $81,550 | +1.0% | $66,200 | $66,980 – $110,220 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $81,460 | +8.4% | $63,396 | $62,120 – $113,860 | 320 |
| Georgia | $81,220 | −10.4% | $62,376 | $45,180 – $114,670 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,810 | +6.2% | $63,199 | $62,060 – $102,060 | 1,370 |
| Kansas | $80,760 | +3.4% | $61,938 | $60,180 – $106,270 | 350 |
| Texas | $79,910 | −3.4% | $65,047 | $61,990 – $98,840 | 2,550 |
| Idaho | $79,280 | +3.2% | $61,510 | $51,720 – $98,350 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $78,310 | +2.3% | $60,943 | $59,750 – $97,560 | 970 |
| Alabama | $77,120 | +5.3% | $59,493 | $53,880 – $97,720 | — |
| South Carolina | $67,580 | −16.6% | $53,475 | $45,870 – $89,960 | 280 |
| Florida | $67,170 | −6.0% | $56,084 | $49,490 – $82,450 | 130 |
| Tennessee | $66,560 | +2.9% | $55,655 | $58,920 – $95,260 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $63,070 | +0.2% | $50,767 | $39,590 – $96,940 | 200 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.9% |
| Chemical Plant and System Operator | $78,120 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.2% |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.3% |
| Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator | $78,620 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.1% |
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.1% |
| Power Distributor and Dispatcher | $106,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.2% |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator | $60,020 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.7% |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.9% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.8% |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $68,120 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gas plant operator make?
The national median salary for gas plant operators is $87,820 a year ($42.22 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,350 and the top 10% earn over $115,520. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays gas plant operators the most?
California has the highest median pay at $130,220.
How many gas plant operators are there in the U.S.?
About 18,030 people work as gas plant operators nationwide.