Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Gas Plant Operators
Gas Plant Operators distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
Table of contents
What they do
Gas Plant Operators distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
- Distribute or process gas for utility companies or industrial plants, using panel boards, control boards, and semi-automatic equipment.
- Monitor transportation and storage of flammable and other potentially dangerous products to ensure that safety guidelines are followed.
- Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
- Control operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment to liquefy, compress, or regasify natural gas.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Gas Plant Operators change charts in recording meters. They clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed.
A typical day for a Gas Plant Operator will also include:
- Collaborate with other operators to solve unit problems.
- Read logsheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions.
- Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
- Start and shut down plant equipment.
- Calculate gas ratios to detect deviations from specifications, using testing apparatus.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Gas Plant Operators also signal or direct workers who tend auxiliary equipment. They may also operate construction equipment to install and maintain gas distribution systems.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Gas Plant Operators collaborate with other operators to solve unit problems. They might also change charts in recording meters.
In addition, they contact maintenance crews when necessary.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed.
To some Gas Plant Operators, it is also their responsibility to control equipment to regulate the flow and pressure of gas to feedlines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
69% said they were satisfied with their job and 68% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Demand for this career is declining.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Gas Plant Operators with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $44,490 to $56,870 per year or $21 to $27 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $105,770 | $51 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $87,610 | $42 |
Median | $72,970 | $35 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $56,870 | $27 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $44,490 | $21 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Gas Plant Operators based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $90110 | $43.32 |
Natural Gas Distribution | $79090 | $38.02 |
Chemical Manufacturing | $77220 | $37.12 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | $75130 | $36.12 |
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $74420 | $35.78 |
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $74300 | $35.72 |
Other Pipeline Transportation | $73950 | $35.55 |
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $72540 | $34.87 |
Oil and Gas Extraction | $72090 | $34.66 |
Support Activities for Mining | $70130 | $33.72 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Gas Plant Operators work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Gas Plant Operators including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 5220 | $72540 | $34.87 |
Natural Gas Distribution | 4840 | $79090 | $38.02 |
Oil and Gas Extraction | 1200 | $72090 | $34.66 |
Local Government | 1140 | $55660 | $26.76 |
Chemical Manufacturing | 530 | $77220 | $37.12 |
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 180 | $74420 | $35.78 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 180 | $75130 | $36.12 |
Support Activities for Mining | 180 | $70130 | $33.72 |
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 160 | $90110 | $43.32 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 120 | $49870 | $23.98 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Petroleum Technology
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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