SOC 51-8092 · Production Occupations

Gas Plant Operators

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$87,820

U.S. median hourly wage$42.22

U.S. employment18,030

Nationally, gas plant operators earned a median of $87,820 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 18,030 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Gas Plant Operators: pay and employment by state
State
California	$130,220	$62.61	800	0.0
New Jersey	$110,900	$53.32	190	0.0
Oregon	$109,760	$52.77	70	0.0
Connecticut	$109,060	$52.43	Not published	Not published
Louisiana	$108,350	$52.09	800	0.4
Arizona	$104,600	$50.29	140	0.0
Massachusetts	$103,830	$49.92	340	0.1
Maryland	$102,950	$49.49	180	0.1
South Dakota	$101,450	$48.78	90	0.2
Arkansas	$100,870	$48.49	400	0.3
Michigan	$100,500	$48.32	540	0.1
Minnesota	$100,500	$48.32	360	0.1
New York	$98,390	$47.31	240	0.0
Utah	$98,300	$47.26	160	0.1
Colorado	$98,080	$47.15	570	0.2
Illinois	$97,810	$47.03	530	0.1
New Mexico	$97,660	$46.95	300	0.3
North Dakota	$96,760	$46.52	770	1.8
Maine	$93,990	$45.19	30	0.1
Iowa	$92,970	$44.70	480	0.3
Missouri	$87,820	$42.22	220	0.1
Nebraska	$87,790	$42.21	270	0.3
Virginia	$86,500	$41.59	400	0.1
Indiana	$85,790	$41.24	280	0.1
Wisconsin	$85,080	$40.91	150	0.1
Washington	$83,650	$40.22	120	0.0
Montana	$83,630	$40.21	70	0.1
West Virginia	$82,600	$39.71	420	0.6
Ohio	$82,130	$39.49	570	0.1
Mississippi	$81,600	$39.23	340	0.3
Wyoming	$81,550	$39.21	480	1.7
North Carolina	$81,460	$39.16	320	0.1
Georgia	$81,220	$39.05	110	0.0
Pennsylvania	$80,810	$38.85	1,370	0.2
Kansas	$80,760	$38.83	350	0.2
Texas	$79,910	$38.42	2,550	0.2
Idaho	$79,280	$38.12	50	0.1
Oklahoma	$78,310	$37.65	970	0.6
Alabama	$77,120	$37.08	Not published	Not published
South Carolina	$67,580	$32.49	280	0.1
Florida	$67,170	$32.29	130	0.0
Tennessee	$66,560	$32.00	200	0.1
Kentucky	$63,070	$30.32	200	0.1
Alaska	Not published	Not published	220	0.7

Pay by metro area

All 51 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Gas Plant Operators: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$125,550	$60.36	210	0.0
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$124,480	$59.85	90	0.1
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$118,870	$57.15	270	0.0
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$118,640	$57.04	50	0.0
Baton Rouge, LA	$113,570	$54.60	100	0.2
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$108,650	$52.24	290	0.2
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$104,770	$50.37	210	0.1
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$104,440	$50.21	40	0.1
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$102,810	$49.43	340	0.1
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$102,390	$49.23	50	0.1
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$100,500	$48.32	290	0.2
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$99,880	$48.02	180	0.1
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$98,900	$47.55	120	0.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$98,640	$47.42	360	0.2
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$97,080	$46.67	50	0.0
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$95,430	$45.88	50	0.0
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$95,260	$45.80	100	0.3
York-Hanover, PA	$94,170	$45.28	40	0.2
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$92,970	$44.70	40	0.2
Omaha, NE-IA	$91,320	$43.90	130	0.3
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$89,430	$42.99	190	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$89,140	$42.85	120	0.1
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$88,460	$42.53	30	0.1
Cleveland, OH	$86,290	$41.48	40	0.0
Charleston, WV	$85,790	$41.25	100	1.0
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$85,530	$41.12	1,510	0.5
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$85,350	$41.04	50	0.1
Wheeling, WV-OH	$82,720	$39.77	80	1.3
Columbia, SC	$81,960	$39.41	40	0.1
Columbus, OH	$81,700	$39.28	70	0.1
Pittsburgh, PA	$81,600	$39.23	440	0.4
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$81,430	$39.15	200	0.0
Kansas City, MO-KS	$81,290	$39.08	60	0.1
Greeley, CO	$80,950	$38.92	40	0.4
Birmingham, AL	$80,280	$38.60	140	0.3
Jackson, MS	$80,270	$38.59	60	0.2
Mobile, AL	$80,230	$38.57	60	0.4
Midland, TX	$79,910	$38.42	90	0.7
College Station-Bryan, TX	$79,770	$38.35	30	0.2
Boise City, ID	$79,280	$38.12	30	0.1
Spartanburg, SC	$79,170	$38.06	50	0.3
Wichita, KS	$78,950	$37.96	30	0.1
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$78,730	$37.85	60	0.1
Tulsa, OK	$78,550	$37.77	270	0.6
Oklahoma City, OK	$78,310	$37.65	230	0.3
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$77,770	$37.39	30	0.2
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$74,230	$35.69	50	0.5
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$66,970	$32.20	70	0.1
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$66,560	$32.00	110	0.2
Toledo, OH	$57,530	$27.66	30	0.1
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$57,080	$27.44	60	0.1

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.