Production
Gas plant operator
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
Median pay
$87,820
Growth to 2035
−6%
declining
Openings a year
1,400
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Gas plant operator
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
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 plant operator: 52% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Compressor Technician (Compressor Tech) · Engine Room Operator · Gas Controller · Gas Dispatcher · Gas Plant Operator · Gas Resource Control Operator · Gas System Operator · Liquefied Natural Gas Technician (LNG Technician)
Outlook and AI
Gas plant operators held 18,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 17,100 by 2035 (−6%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as improved process controls require less direct management, monitoring, and approval from operators due to automation.
Compare with
- Gas plant operator vs. Power plant operator
- Gas plant operator vs. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Gas plant operator vs. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
- Gas plant operator vs. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Gas plant operator vs. Chemical plant and system operators
- Gas plant operator vs. Wellhead pumper
- Gas plant operator vs. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
- Gas plant operator vs. Power distributors and dispatchers