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Life As a Gas Plant Operator

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

Gas Plant Operator Responsibilities

  • Read logsheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions.
  • Clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed.
  • Start and shut down plant equipment.
  • Control equipment to regulate flow and pressure of gas to feedlines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment.
  • Adjust temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of gas to maintain processes at required levels or to correct problems.
  • Distribute or process gas for utility companies or industrial plants, using panel boards, control boards, and semi-automatic equipment.

Skills Needed to be a Gas Plant Operator

When polled, Gas Plant Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Types of Gas Plant Operator

  • Gas Distribution Plant Operator
  • Gas Systems Worker
  • Gas Operator
  • Bulk Gas Specialist
  • Regasification Plant Operator

Gas Plant Operator Employment Estimates

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 17,300 jobs in the United States for Gas Plant Operator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Gas Plant Operator. The BLS estimates 1,700 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Gas Plant Operator are Washington, Wyoming, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Wisconsin, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Gas Plant Operator Make?

The salary for Gas Plant Operators ranges between about $45,830 and $100,410 a year.

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Gas Plant Operators who work in California, Massachusetts, or North Dakota, make the highest salaries.

How much do Gas Plant Operators make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $70,950
Alaska $63,430
Arizona $62,000
Arkansas $66,620
California $101,610
Colorado $70,260
Florida $50,660
Georgia $59,900
Illinois $74,590
Indiana $68,580
Iowa $54,440
Kansas $67,660
Kentucky $68,240
Louisiana $68,370
Maryland $81,460
Massachusetts $85,470
Michigan $76,690
Minnesota $72,810
Mississippi $60,460
Missouri $73,370
Montana $70,400
Nebraska $61,120
New Hampshire $69,370
New Jersey $75,150
New Mexico $61,910
New York $77,460
North Carolina $61,280
North Dakota $85,740
Ohio $68,680
Oklahoma $64,560
Oregon $75,560
Pennsylvania $67,210
South Carolina $53,070
Tennessee $56,170
Texas $68,690
Utah $68,550
Virginia $63,950
Washington $82,790
West Virginia $70,730
Wyoming $73,870

Tools & Technologies Used by Gas Plant Operators

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Gas Plant Operators may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • SAP
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • Work scheduling software

Becoming a Gas Plant Operator

Learn what Gas Plant Operator education requirements there are.

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What work experience do I need to become a Gas Plant Operator?

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Gas Plant Operators Sector

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The table below shows the approximate number of Gas Plant Operators employed by various industries.

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Gas Plant Operator might also be interested in the following careers:

Are you already one of the many Gas Plant Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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