Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators Salaries by State

Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for gas compressor and gas pumping station operatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).

National mean salary $74,610 ≈ $36/hr
National median salary $77,320
Total employment 3,510 nationwide

Job Outlook, 2024–2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.

Projected growth -1.3% Decline
Annual openings 600 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 5,400 → 5,300 (-100)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Salary Map

Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.

Mean annual wage $0–$57,000 $57,000–$64,000 $64,000–$74,000 $74,000–$85,000 $85,000–$111,000 U.S. mean $74,610

💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States

  1. Alaska$110,500
  2. Kansas$108,270
  3. Indiana$99,730
  4. Ohio$89,090
  5. Oklahoma$85,040

📉 5 Lowest-Paying States

  1. Tennessee$51,820
  2. Alabama$52,590
  3. South Dakota$53,810
  4. New York$56,530
  5. Washington$56,680
#StateMeanMedian Hourlyvs. U.S.Employment
1 Alaska $110,500 $106,440 $53 +48.1% 60
2 Kansas $108,270 $107,730 $52 +45.1% 50
3 Indiana $99,730 $100,280 $48 +33.7% 40
4 Ohio $89,090 $85,930 $43 +19.4% 120
5 Oklahoma $85,040 $82,150 $41 +14% 140
6 Montana $83,430 $83,750 $40 +11.8% 100
7 Texas $80,590 $82,120 $39 +8% 1,350
8 Michigan $78,750 $78,240 $38 +5.5% 40
9 Louisiana $73,590 $79,970 $35 -1.4% 60
10 Colorado $71,990 $76,200 $35 -3.5%
11 Virginia $67,390 $64,990 $32 -9.7% 40
12 West Virginia $65,100 $65,050 $31 -12.7% 200
13 Pennsylvania $63,870 $60,170 $31 -14.4% 300
14 Nebraska $63,830 $64,620 $31 -14.4% 40
15 Oregon $57,030 $51,150 $27 -23.6%

Top-Paying Metro Areas

Highest median pay among 9 metro areas.

#Metro areaMedianMeanEmployment
1 Kansas nonmetropolitan area $107,730 $107,960 50
2 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $90,730 $83,200
3 East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area $83,750 $86,760 90
4 Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $82,830 $84,610 140
5 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $79,720 $78,240 100
6 Charleston, WV $73,080 $69,930 30
7 Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $67,080 $73,230 60
8 Pittsburgh, PA $61,190 $69,160 60
9 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $48,250 $60,360 70

Pay by Industry

Highest-paying industries employing gas compressor and gas pumping station operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).

#IndustryMedianMeanEmployment
1 Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas $90,730 $89,150 1,390
2 Pipeline Transportation $88,040 $87,020 1,580
3 Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing $88,040 $87,010 1,580
4 Utilities $83,740 $83,090 320
5 Sector 22 - Utilities $83,740 $83,090 320
6 Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil $83,730 $85,240
7 Natural Gas Distribution $83,220 $81,720 290
8 Cross-industry, Private Ownership only $78,940 $75,420 3,360
9 Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local $77,320 $74,610 3,510
10 Oil and Gas Extraction $74,230 $81,650 200
11 Oil and Gas Extraction $74,230 $81,650 200
12 Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction $67,360 $72,980 350

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do gas compressor and gas pumping station operators make in the U.S.?

The median gas compressor and gas pumping station operators salary in the United States is $77,320 per year (mean $74,610), and about 80% earn between $46,180 and $99,510.

How much do gas compressor and gas pumping station operators make per hour?

Roughly $36 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $74,610 and 2,080 work hours per year.

Which state pays gas compressor and gas pumping station operators the most?

Alaska has the highest average pay for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators at $110,500 per year (median $106,440).

What is the job outlook for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators?

Employment is projected to change -1.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 600 openings per year.