Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators manage equipment that moves gas through systems and stations. This occupation offers a national median salary of $71,510 with national employment of about 5,000 workers. While projected employment growth is slightly negative at -1.3%, there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing replacement and turnover needs. Typical entry into this career is based on a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to individuals who do not plan to complete a four-year degree. Success in this field draws on a combination of mechanical abilities, attention to detail, and physical strength and stamina, along with problem solving and decision making skills. For people interested in hands-on work that blends mechanical, scientific, and technological skills, this role can be a solid option. Related paths include stationary engineers and boiler operators, gas plant operators, power plant operators, and several specialized repair and technician roles.
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators earn a national median annual salary of $71,510. Within this overall picture, pay differs meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Texas stands out with a median salary of $82,120, while Virginia is also relatively high at $64,990. New York and Pennsylvania fall in a similar range at $59,040 and $60,170, while Washington shows a median of $57,500. At the metro level, Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX, offers a median salary of $79,720, and Charleston, WV, shows $73,080. Pittsburgh, PA, is lower at $61,190 but still aligned with several of the highlighted states. This range indicates that location choices can significantly influence earnings, with some states and metros offering higher pay within the same occupation.
Nationally, gas compressor and gas pumping station operators account for about 5,000 jobs. The occupation’s projected employment growth is -1.3%, indicating a small expected decline in overall employment levels over the projection period. Even with this modest negative growth, there are an estimated 1,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that many opportunities will arise from workers retiring, changing occupations, or moving rather than from net new job creation. The uniform -1.3% projected growth shown for the highlighted states and metro areas indicates that this slight decline is broadly consistent across different regions. Individuals considering this career may want to weigh the relatively stable total employment size and ongoing annual openings against the modestly shrinking overall job count, and may also compare this path with similar occupations such as gas plant operators or power plant operators.
Location plays a clear role in shaping opportunities for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators. Among states with the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores, New York ranks highest with a score of 65.78, though its median salary of $59,040 is below Texas’s $82,120. Washington and Pennsylvania offer median salaries of $57,500 and $60,170, respectively, while Virginia offers $64,990. Texas combines the highest salary with the largest state employment level at 1,350 workers, which may appeal to those seeking both pay and job concentration. Pennsylvania has 300 employed, New York 60, Washington 120, and Virginia 40. At the metro level, Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX, leads with an opportunity score of 55.08 and median pay of $79,720, while Pittsburgh, PA, and Charleston, WV, show lower opportunity scores and smaller employment levels. These differences highlight how both state and metro choice can affect salary levels, job counts, and overall opportunity scores within the same occupation.
The typical education for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who are not planning on a college degree but are ready to build job-specific competencies and experience. Beyond formal education, the skill profile is central to success. Mechanical skills and fine motor abilities support working with equipment and controls, while physical strength and stamina are important for the physical aspects of the role. Detail orientation, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making help operators monitor conditions and respond appropriately. Science skills and comfort with computers and information technology also play a part, reflecting the technical nature of modern systems. Leadership and adaptability round out the profile, supporting work in environments that may require coordinating with others and adjusting to changing conditions or demands.
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