How much does a gas plant operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $42.22 an hour or $7,318 a month.
- Hourly
- $42.22
- Average (mean)
- $88,710
- Jobs
- 18,030
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,350 | $29.50 | |
| 25th | $76,870 | $36.96 | |
| Median | $87,820 | $42.22 | |
| 75th | $100,900 | $48.50 | |
| 90th | $115,500 | $55.54 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $130,200 |
| New Jersey | $110,900 |
| Oregon | $109,800 |
| Connecticut | $109,100 |
| Louisiana | $108,400 |
| Arizona | $104,600 |
| Massachusetts | $103,800 |
| Maryland | $103,000 |
| South Dakota | $101,500 |
| Arkansas | $100,900 |
| Michigan | $100,500 |
| Minnesota | $100,500 |
| New York | $98,390 |
| Utah | $98,300 |
| Colorado | $98,080 |
| Illinois | $97,810 |
| New Mexico | $97,660 |
| North Dakota | $96,760 |
| Maine | $93,990 |
| Iowa | $92,970 |
| Missouri | $87,820 |
| Nebraska | $87,790 |
| Virginia | $86,500 |
| Indiana | $85,790 |
| Wisconsin | $85,080 |
| Washington | $83,650 |
| Montana | $83,630 |
| West Virginia | $82,600 |
| Ohio | $82,130 |
| Mississippi | $81,600 |
| Wyoming | $81,550 |
| North Carolina | $81,460 |
| Georgia | $81,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,810 |
| Kansas | $80,760 |
| Texas | $79,910 |
| Idaho | $79,280 |
| Oklahoma | $78,310 |
| Alabama | $77,120 |
| South Carolina | $67,580 |
| Florida | $67,170 |
| Tennessee | $66,560 |
| Kentucky | $63,070 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Los Angeles, CA | $125,600 |
| Riverside, CA | $124,500 |
| New York, NY | $118,900 |
| Portland, OR | $118,600 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $113,600 |
| Detroit, MI | $108,700 |
| Boston, MA | $104,800 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $104,400 |
| Chicago, IL | $102,800 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $102,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $100,500 |
| Washington, DC | $99,880 |
| San Diego, CA | $98,900 |
| Denver, CO | $98,640 |
| Seattle, WA | $97,080 |
In other countries
Gas Plant Operator belongs to the international group "Petroleum and natural gas refining plant operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator$122,900
- Power Distributor and Dispatcher$106,700
- Power Plant Operator$102,000
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator$78,620
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$60,020
- Chemical Plant and System Operator$78,120
- Petroleum Pump System Operator$96,710
- Plant and System Operator$62,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gas plant operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $42.22 ($87,820 a year).
How much does a gas plant operator make a month?
About $7,318 a month before tax, based on a median of $87,820 a year.
How much does a gas plant operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $61,350 or less a year ($29.50 an hour); the top 10% make $115,500 or more.
Which state pays gas plant operators the most?
California, with a median of $130,200 a year, followed by New Jersey ($110,900) and Oregon ($109,800).
Which city pays gas plant operators the most?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with a median of $125,600 a year.
How many gas plant operators are there in the United States?
About 18,030 people work as gas plant operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.