How much does a Gas Plant Operator make?
A Gas Plant Operator earns a median annual salary of $87,820 in the United States, which works out to roughly $42.22 per hour for full-time work. Most Gas Plant Operators earn between $61,350 at the entry level and $115,520 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $76,870 and $100,870 a year.
That is $26,430 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Gas Plant Operator salary range by percentile
Half of all Gas Plant Operators earn between $76,870 and $100,870 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,350 | $29.50 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $76,870 | $36.96 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $87,820 | $42.22 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $100,870 | $48.50 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,520 | $55.54 |
Highest-paying states for Gas Plant Operator
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Gas Plant Operator pay at $130,220 a year, followed by New Jersey ($110,900) and Oregon ($109,760). At the other end, Kentucky posts the lowest median at $63,070 — a gap of $67,150 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $130,220 | $62.61 | +48% |
| 2 | New Jersey | $110,900 | $53.32 | +26% |
| 3 | Oregon | $109,760 | $52.77 | +25% |
| 4 | Connecticut | $109,060 | $52.43 | +24% |
| 5 | Louisiana | $108,350 | $52.09 | +23% |
Gas Plant Operator salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 43 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 18,000 people work as Gas Plant Operators in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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