Gas Plant Operator salary in the U.S.
Gas Plant Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $87,820 a year ($42.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,520 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $88,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for gas plant operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,350 | $29.50 |
| 25th percentile | $76,870 | $36.96 |
| Median | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| 75th percentile | $100,870 | $48.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,520 | $55.54 |
| Average (mean) | $88,710 | $42.65 |
Half of gas plant operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,318.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,659.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,377.69 |
| Weekly | $1,688.85 |
| Hourly | $42.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Gas Plant Operator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $130,220 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $110,900 | 190 |
| Oregon | $109,760 | 70 |
| Connecticut | $109,060 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $108,350 | 800 |
| Arizona | $104,600 | 140 |
| Massachusetts | $103,830 | 340 |
| Maryland | $102,950 | 180 |
| South Dakota | $101,450 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $100,870 | 400 |
| Michigan | $100,500 | 540 |
| Minnesota | $100,500 | 360 |
| New York | $98,390 | 240 |
| Utah | $98,300 | 160 |
| Colorado | $98,080 | 570 |
| Illinois | $97,810 | 530 |
| New Mexico | $97,660 | 300 |
| North Dakota | $96,760 | 770 |
| Maine | $93,990 | 30 |
| Iowa | $92,970 | 480 |
| Missouri | $87,820 | 220 |
| Nebraska | $87,790 | 270 |
| Virginia | $86,500 | 400 |
| Indiana | $85,790 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $85,080 | 150 |
| Washington | $83,650 | 120 |
| Montana | $83,630 | 70 |
| West Virginia | $82,600 | 420 |
| Ohio | $82,130 | 570 |
| Mississippi | $81,600 | 340 |
| Wyoming | $81,550 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $81,460 | 320 |
| Georgia | $81,220 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,810 | 1,370 |
| Kansas | $80,760 | 350 |
| Texas | $79,910 | 2,550 |
| Idaho | $79,280 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $78,310 | 970 |
| Alabama | $77,120 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $67,580 | 280 |
| Florida | $67,170 | 130 |
| Tennessee | $66,560 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $63,070 | 200 |
Best-paying metro areas for gas plant operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,550 | 210 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $124,480 | 90 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $118,870 | 270 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $118,640 | 50 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $113,570 | 100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $108,650 | 290 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $104,770 | 210 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $104,440 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,810 | 340 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $102,390 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $100,500 | 290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,880 | 180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,900 | 120 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $98,640 | 360 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $97,080 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most gas plant operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,510 | $85,530 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 440 | $81,600 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 360 | $98,640 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 340 | $102,810 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 290 | $108,650 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 290 | $100,500 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 270 | $118,870 |
| Tulsa, OK | 270 | $78,550 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 230 | $78,310 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 210 | $104,770 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 210 | $125,550 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 200 | $81,430 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 190 | $89,430 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 180 | $99,880 |
| Birmingham, AL | 140 | $80,280 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | $37.80 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $78,120 | $37.56 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $106,730 | $51.31 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | $59.08 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Machinist | $58,750 | $28.24 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8092. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gas plant operator make in the U.S.?
The median salary for gas plant operators in the U.S. is $87,820 a year, or $42.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid gas plant operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of gas plant operators in the U.S. earn at least $115,520 a year. The top 25% earn $100,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for gas plant operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,350 a year, and a quarter of gas plant operators earn $76,870 or less.
How many gas plant operators work in the U.S.?
About 18,030 gas plant operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.