← All careers

Skilled Trades

Gas Plant Operators

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

Median salary (BLS)

$87,820

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$61k – $116k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Gas Plant Operators

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Gas Plant Operators" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Gas Plant Operators

    Entry / Junior

    $61,350

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Gas Plant Operators

    Established

    $87,820

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Gas Plant Operators

    Senior

    $101,670

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.