Gas Plant Operator salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Gas Plant Operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $74,230 a year ($35.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,510 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $87,820. Pay here is 26% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $100,870. There are 0.48 gas plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $81,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for gas plant operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,240 | $29.44 |
| 25th percentile | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| Median | $74,230 | $35.69 |
| 75th percentile | $105,500 | $50.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,510 | $50.73 |
| Average (mean) | $81,970 | $39.41 |
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 | $6,185.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,092.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,855 |
| Weekly | $1,427.50 |
| Hourly | $35.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Gas Plant Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $88,460 | 30 |
| Tulsa, OK | $78,550 | 270 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $78,310 | 230 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,560 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for gas plant operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $130,220 |
| New Jersey | $110,900 |
| Oregon | $109,760 |
| Connecticut | $109,060 |
| Louisiana | $108,350 |
| Arizona | $104,600 |
| Massachusetts | $103,830 |
| Maryland | $102,950 |
| South Dakota | $101,450 |
| Arkansas | $100,870 |
See Gas Plant Operator pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $40,830 | $19.63 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,930 | $17.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $41,440 | $19.92 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| Food Batchmaker | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,960 | $21.61 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $43,160 | $20.75 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for gas plant operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $74,230 a year, or $35.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid gas plant operators make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of gas plant operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $105,510 a year. The top 25% earn $105,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for gas plant operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,240 a year, and a quarter of gas plant operators earn $64,940 or less.
How many gas plant operators work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 50 gas plant operators are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.