Gas Plant Operators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for gas plant 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 $88,710 ≈ $43/hr
National median salary $87,820
Total employment 18,030 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth -8.8%
Decline
Annual openings 1,300 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 16,200 → 14,800 (-1,400)
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.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$120,680
- New Jersey$111,490
- Oregon$110,010
- Connecticut$103,270
- Massachusetts$102,210
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Kentucky$67,080
- Florida$67,630
- South Carolina$69,080
- Tennessee$71,020
- Alabama$75,660
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $120,680 | $130,220 | $58 | +36% | 800 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $111,490 | $110,900 | $54 | +25.7% | 190 |
| 3 | Oregon | $110,010 | $109,760 | $53 | +24% | 70 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $103,270 | $109,060 | $50 | +16.4% | — |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $102,210 | $103,830 | $49 | +15.2% | 340 |
| 6 | Michigan | $101,500 | $100,500 | $49 | +14.4% | 540 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $99,740 | $96,760 | $48 | +12.4% | 770 |
| 8 | New York | $99,740 | $98,390 | $48 | +12.4% | 240 |
| 9 | Arizona | $99,250 | $104,600 | $48 | +11.9% | 140 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $97,770 | $101,450 | $47 | +10.2% | 90 |
| 11 | Maryland | $95,350 | $102,950 | $46 | +7.5% | 180 |
| 12 | Utah | $94,590 | $98,300 | $45 | +6.6% | 160 |
| 13 | Colorado | $93,470 | $98,080 | $45 | +5.4% | 570 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $93,270 | $108,350 | $45 | +5.1% | 800 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $93,040 | $100,500 | $45 | +4.9% | 360 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $91,850 | $100,870 | $44 | +3.5% | 400 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $91,050 | $97,660 | $44 | +2.6% | 300 |
| 18 | Illinois | $90,040 | $97,810 | $43 | +1.5% | 530 |
| 19 | Maine | $89,750 | $93,990 | $43 | +1.2% | 30 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $88,140 | $81,550 | $42 | -0.6% | 480 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $87,760 | $87,790 | $42 | -1.1% | 270 |
| 22 | Virginia | $87,150 | $86,500 | $42 | -1.8% | 400 |
| 23 | Indiana | $86,770 | $85,790 | $42 | -2.2% | 280 |
| 24 | Washington | $86,700 | $83,650 | $42 | -2.3% | 120 |
| 25 | Iowa | $86,690 | $92,970 | $42 | -2.3% | 480 |
| 26 | Missouri | $86,680 | $87,820 | $42 | -2.3% | 220 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $85,560 | $81,460 | $41 | -3.6% | 320 |
| 28 | Montana | $85,420 | $83,630 | $41 | -3.7% | 70 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $85,100 | $85,080 | $41 | -4.1% | 150 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $84,020 | $80,810 | $40 | -5.3% | 1,370 |
| 31 | Kansas | $82,430 | $80,760 | $40 | -7.1% | 350 |
| 32 | Texas | $81,770 | $79,910 | $39 | -7.8% | 2,550 |
| 33 | Idaho | $81,240 | $79,280 | $39 | -8.4% | 50 |
| 34 | Ohio | $81,040 | $82,130 | $39 | -8.6% | 570 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $80,530 | $82,600 | $39 | -9.2% | 420 |
| 36 | Georgia | $80,440 | $81,220 | $39 | -9.3% | 110 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $78,290 | $81,600 | $38 | -11.7% | 340 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $77,580 | $78,310 | $37 | -12.5% | 970 |
| 39 | Alabama | $75,660 | $77,120 | $36 | -14.7% | — |
| 40 | Tennessee | $71,020 | $66,560 | $34 | -19.9% | 200 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $69,080 | $67,580 | $33 | -22.1% | 280 |
| 42 | Florida | $67,630 | $67,170 | $33 | -23.8% | 130 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $67,080 | $63,070 | $32 | -24.4% | 200 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 87 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,550 | $121,110 | 210 |
| 2 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $124,480 | $114,070 | 90 |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $118,870 | $115,310 | 270 |
| 4 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $118,640 | $110,150 | 50 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge, LA | $113,570 | $95,240 | 100 |
| 6 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $108,650 | $103,970 | 290 |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $104,770 | $101,820 | 210 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $104,440 | $100,860 | 40 |
| 9 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,810 | $96,520 | 340 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $102,390 | $96,920 | 50 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing gas plant operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $108,350 | $100,590 | 900 |
| 2 | Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $101,540 | $105,240 | 370 |
| 3 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $99,130 | $101,120 | 880 |
| 4 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $98,000 | $96,090 | 420 |
| 5 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $98,000 | $96,090 | 420 |
| 6 | Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises | $98,000 | $96,090 | 420 |
| 7 | Utilities | $94,060 | $92,980 | 7,920 |
| 8 | Sector 22 - Utilities | $94,060 | $92,980 | 7,920 |
| 9 | Natural Gas Distribution | $92,090 | $92,040 | 7,020 |
| 10 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $89,340 | $90,030 | 17,020 |
| 11 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $87,820 | $88,710 | 18,030 |
| 12 | Pipeline Transportation | $85,570 | $88,210 | 5,710 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do gas plant operators make in the U.S.?
The median gas plant operators salary in the United States is $87,820 per year (mean $88,710), and about 80% earn between $61,350 and $115,520.
How much do gas plant operators make per hour?
Roughly $43 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $88,710 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays gas plant operators the most?
California has the highest average pay for gas plant operators at $120,680 per year (median $130,220).
What is the job outlook for gas plant operators?
Employment is projected to change -8.8% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 1,300 openings per year.