Transportation and material moving
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
Operate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors. Transmit, compress, or recover gases, such as butane, nitrogen, hydrogen, and natural gas.
Median pay
$77,320
Growth to 2035
+2%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
300
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators: 66% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Monitor meters and pressure gauges to determine consumption rate variations, temperatures, and pressures.
- Respond to problems by adjusting control room equipment or instructing other personnel to adjust equipment at problem locations or in other control areas.
- Record instrument readings and operational changes in operating logs.
- Adjust valves and equipment to obtain specified performance.
- Move controls and turn valves to start compressor engines, pumps, and auxiliary equipment.
- Operate power-driven pumps that transfer liquids, semi-liquids, gases, or powdered materials.
- Submit daily reports on facility operations.
- Take samples of gases and conduct chemical tests to determine gas quality and sulfur or moisture content, or send samples to laboratories for analysis.
Also called: Compressor Operator · Compressor Station Operator · Compressor Technician · Fill Plant Operator · Filler · Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator) · Pipeline Technician · Plant Operator
Outlook and AI
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators held 3,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 3,600 by 2035 (+2%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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