Gas Plant Operator salary in West Virginia
Gas Plant Operators in West Virginia earn a median of $82,600 a year ($39.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,460 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $87,820. West Virginia ranks 28th of 43 states for gas plant operators pay. There are 0.60 gas plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $80,530, close to the median.
Pay range for gas plant operators in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| 25th percentile | $70,950 | $34.11 |
| Median | $82,600 | $39.71 |
| 75th percentile | $90,140 | $43.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,460 | $48.30 |
| Average (mean) | $80,530 | $38.72 |
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 | $6,883.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,441.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,176.92 |
| Weekly | $1,588.46 |
| Hourly | $39.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Gas Plant Operator salary in cities in West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,880 | 180 |
| Charleston, WV | $85,790 | 100 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $82,720 | 80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $77,770 | 30 |
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 |
Related jobs in West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $81,710 | $39.28 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $83,910 | $40.34 |
| Power Plant Operator | $97,210 | $46.74 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $70,660 | $33.97 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,960 | $49.02 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $68,990 | $33.17 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,500 | $18.99 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,810 | $23.46 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $76,080 | $36.58 |
| Machinist | $47,350 | $22.77 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in West Virginia
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 West Virginia?
The median salary for gas plant operators in West Virginia is $82,600 a year, or $39.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid gas plant operators make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of gas plant operators in West Virginia earn at least $100,460 a year. The top 25% earn $90,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for gas plant operators in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,000 a year, and a quarter of gas plant operators earn $70,950 or less.
How many gas plant operators work in West Virginia?
About 420 gas plant operators are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.