# Gas Plant Operators

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gas-plant-operators
- SOC code: 51-8092.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $87,820 (10th percentile $61,350, 90th percentile $115,520)
- Projected growth: Decline, -6.0%
- Openings a year: 1,400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 94 |
| Investigative (I) | 26 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 8 |
| Enterprising (E) | 21 |
| Conventional (C) | 70 |

## What you'd do

- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 84/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Getting Information (importance 83/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 78/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 76/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 75/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 73/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, Mechanical, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Production and Processing, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Education and Training

## Also called

Bulk Gas Specialist, Compressor Technician (Compressor Tech), Engine Room Operator, Field Gauger, Field Technician (Field Tech), Fuel Attendant, Gas Controller, Gas Dispatcher, Gas Distribution Plant Operator, Gas Maker

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1509) (CIP 1509, 47 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Lewis and Clark Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lewis-and-clark-community-college-1478) | Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $112,093 | not reported |
| [Lackawanna College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lackawanna-college-1413) | Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians | $69,818 | $89,729 | not reported |
| [Nicholls State University-Louisiana](https://www.collegesref.com/college/nicholls-state-university-louisiana-1873) | Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians | $64,161 | $79,041 | $15,751 |

## Related careers

- [Power Plant Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/power-plant-operators): $102,040 median pay
- [Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/petroleum-pump-system-operators-refinery-operators-and-gaugers): $96,710 median pay
- [Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gas-compressor-and-gas-pumping-station-operators): $77,320 median pay
- [Biomass Plant Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biomass-plant-technicians): $102,040 median pay
- [Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stationary-engineers-and-boiler-operators): $78,620 median pay
- [Chemical Plant and System Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-plant-and-system-operators): $78,120 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.