Gas Plant Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for gas plant operators is $87,820, or $42.22 per hour. About 18,030 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $130,220 in California to $63,070 in Kentucky.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 43 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $130,220 | $62.61 | 800 | 0.38 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $110,900 | $53.32 | 190 | 0.38 |
| 3 | Oregon | $109,760 | $52.77 | 70 | 0.33 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $109,060 | $52.43 | — | — |
| 5 | Louisiana | $108,350 | $52.09 | 800 | 3.54 |
| 6 | Arizona | $104,600 | $50.29 | 140 | 0.38 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $103,830 | $49.92 | 340 | 0.82 |
| 8 | Maryland | $102,950 | $49.49 | 180 | 0.58 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $101,450 | $48.78 | 90 | 1.65 |
| 10 | Arkansas | $100,870 | $48.49 | 400 | 2.68 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $100,500 | $48.32 | 360 | 1.06 |
| 12 | Michigan | $100,500 | $48.32 | 540 | 1.07 |
| 13 | New York | $98,390 | $47.31 | 240 | 0.21 |
| 14 | Utah | $98,300 | $47.26 | 160 | 0.81 |
| 15 | Colorado | $98,080 | $47.15 | 570 | 1.70 |
| 16 | Illinois | $97,810 | $47.03 | 530 | 0.74 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $97,660 | $46.95 | 300 | 3.01 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $96,760 | $46.52 | 770 | 15.56 |
| 19 | Maine | $93,990 | $45.19 | 30 | 0.46 |
| 20 | Iowa | $92,970 | $44.70 | 480 | 2.65 |
| 21 | Missouri | $87,820 | $42.22 | 220 | 0.64 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $87,790 | $42.21 | 270 | 2.28 |
| 23 | Virginia | $86,500 | $41.59 | 400 | 0.84 |
| 24 | Indiana | $85,790 | $41.24 | 280 | 0.76 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $85,080 | $40.91 | 150 | 0.43 |
| 26 | Washington | $83,650 | $40.22 | 120 | 0.29 |
| 27 | Montana | $83,630 | $40.21 | 70 | 1.26 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $82,600 | $39.71 | 420 | 5.22 |
| 29 | Ohio | $82,130 | $39.49 | 570 | 0.88 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $81,600 | $39.23 | 340 | 2.50 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $81,550 | $39.21 | 480 | 14.64 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $81,460 | $39.16 | 320 | 0.55 |
| 33 | Georgia | $81,220 | $39.05 | 110 | 0.20 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $80,810 | $38.85 | 1,370 | 1.95 |
| 35 | Kansas | $80,760 | $38.83 | 350 | 2.09 |
| 36 | Texas | $79,910 | $38.42 | 2,550 | 1.57 |
| 37 | Idaho | $79,280 | $38.12 | 50 | 0.49 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $78,310 | $37.65 | 970 | 4.90 |
| 39 | Alabama | $77,120 | $37.08 | — | — |
| 40 | South Carolina | $67,580 | $32.49 | 280 | 1.06 |
| 41 | Florida | $67,170 | $32.29 | 130 | 0.12 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $66,560 | $32.00 | 200 | 0.54 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $63,070 | $30.32 | 200 | 0.86 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do gas plant operators make?
The median annual wage for gas plant operators in the United States is $87,820, or $42.22 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $61,350, and the top 10% earn $115,520.
How many gas plant operators are employed in the U.S.?
About 18,030 people work as gas plant operators nationwide.
Which state pays gas plant operators the most?
California pays the most at a median of $130,220, followed by New Jersey ($110,900) and Oregon ($109,760).
Which state pays gas plant operators the least?
Kentucky has the lowest median at $63,070.
Where are gas plant operators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is North Dakota at 15.56×.