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Gas Plant Operators

Distribute or process gas for utility companies.

Quick Facts

Wages:	Well above the statewide median $45.95 / hour Read more about wages
Outlook:	Shrinking Growth rate: -1.8% Read more about outlook
Education:	High School or less is typically required.
On the Job:	Typical Work Tasks Diagnose equipment malfunctions. Operate natural gas distribution equipment. Operate natural gas generation equipment. Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning. Read more about the job
Job Title Examples:	Gas Dispatcher Refinery Operator Plant Operator See more job title examples

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This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Wages & Outlook

Typical Wages

Wages listed below are for a variety of experience and education levels. Make sure that you research the typical entry-level education and work experience and training requirements for this occupation.

This career: $45.95
Statewide median: $24.25

This is a very high-wage career. It pays well above the statewide median wage.

Wages for Gas Plant Operators *

Area	Low	Median	High
U S	$31.17	$39.81	$47.56
Minnesota	$40.12	$45.95	$49.58
Northwest Minnesota	$39.16	$43.98	$49.58
Southwest Minnesota	$31.67	$40.18	$45.54

* "Low" indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more.
"Median" indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
"High" indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

See more wage detail.

Employment

In Minnesota, there are 190 workers employed in this very small career.

Where do Gas Plant Operators most often work?

Current Demand

No data available.

Future Demand

This career is shrinking.

There will be a need for about 109 new Gas Plant Operators to meet market demand between 2020-2030. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Employment Outlook for Gas Plant Operators
Area	Employment		Employment Change
Area	2020	2030	Number	Percent
U S	15,100	14,800	-300	-1.8%
Minnesota	116	110	-6	-5.2%

On the Job

Gas Plant Operators distribute or process gas for utility companies. They do this by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on gas pipelines.

Typical Work Tasks

People who work in this career often:

Diagnose equipment malfunctions.
Operate natural gas distribution equipment.
Operate natural gas generation equipment.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Analyze test results.
Inspect production equipment.
Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
Record operational or production data.
Confer with others to resolve production problems or equipment malfunctions.
Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.

Typical Working Conditions

Having telephone conversations.
Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
Working outdoors exposed to weather.
Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.
Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
Meeting strict deadlines.
Exposure to hazardous conditions.
Working with a group or team.
Responsibility for others' health and safety.

Education & Credentials

Educational Requirements

High School or less

Education level attained (national data)

Education Level Attained (national data)
Education Level Attained	Percentage of workers in this occupation
Less than high school diploma	7.3
High school diploma or equivalent	39.7
Some college, no degree	28.9
Associate degree	13.8
Bachelors degree	8.5
Masters degree	1.7
Doctoral (Ph.D) or professional degree	0.1

Work Experience and Training Requirements

Nationally, this career typically requires:

No related work experience for entry.
Long-term on-the-job training to become competent.

Transfer Options

Enrolling in a community college can be a great place to start your four-year degree. While all 31 Minnesota State community colleges, technical colleges and universities offer all or part of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (a 40-credit package of general education courses accepted for transfer to other state colleges and universities, the University of Minnesota, and some private colleges and universities), not all two-year colleges offer degrees intended to transfer to a four-year bachelor's degree.

If you plan to transfer to obtain a four-year bachelor's degree, it is important to know which degree path is right for you:

Associate of Arts (AA) degrees offered at community colleges are designed to transfer into liberal arts four-year majors.
Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degrees offered at community and technical colleges transfer into specific four-year majors and will likely require completing additional general education courses at a university.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees offered at technical and community colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.
Diplomas and certificates offered at technical colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.

Talk to a transfer specialist as early as possible to determine the best associate degree for your goals. Be sure to review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) each semester to best prepare for transfer. Get more help understanding transfer using the tools below.

Visit Transferology to see if your courses will transfer.
Search Articulation Agreements to find formal transfer agreements between schools.

Apprenticeship

A registered apprenticeship is a structured way of learning a skilled occupation, craft, or trade. It combines on-the-job training and classroom instruction.

View the recent 1 apprenticeship(s) for this occupation.

Helpful High School Courses

Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

Applied Math
Blueprint Reading
Computer Applications
Drafting
Electronics
Geometry

Industrial Technology
Introduction to Business
Physics
Pre-Calculus
Technical Writing
Trigonometry

In Minnesota, your school may have developed a Program of Study in this career area. A Program of Study is an academic and career plan developed by your high school to help move you towards a career and college path. A Program of Study can help you:

Select high school classes that prepare you for college and getting a job
Understand how the classes you're taking in high school lead to a career
Identify extra-curricular activities that are related to your career interest
See what classes at your school offer early college credit that will save you time and money towards your college expenses
Graduate from high school prepared for your next step toward the career you choose

Skills & Knowledge

Most Important Skills for Gas Plant Operators

Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Troubleshooting—Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Gas Plant Operators

Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Physics—Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
Building and Construction—Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Interests

Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Learn more about your interests. Take the MnCareers Interest Assessment.

Describe Your Skills

People who have worked in this career typically perform the following tasks. These statements can help a prospective employer understand what you can do, on a resume or during an interview.

Making decisions or solving problems.
Controlling machines and processes.
Monitoring information from a variety of sources to find problems.
Identifying information by categorizing, comparing, or detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to find or fix problems.
Documenting or recording information.
Communicating with supervisors, co-workers, or people that work under you.
Collecting information from different sources.

Careers that Use Similar Skills

The following careers use skills, knowledge, and abilities that are similar to those used for Gas Plant Operators.

View more careers in the Manufacturing cluster

View more careers in the Maintenance and Operations pathway

Please visit CareerOneStop to search Tools & Technology.

Jobs

Real-time job data provided by Gartner TalentNeuron

Job Title Examples

Gas Dispatcher, Refinery Operator, Plant Operator, Compressor Station Operator, Crude Unit Operator, Engine Room Operator, Gas Controller, Gas Plant Operator, Gas System Operator, Hydrotreater Operator, Liquid Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator), Liquified Natural Gas Specialist (LNG Specialist), Liquified Natural Gas Technician (LNG Technician), Outside Operator, Unit Operator, Pumper

Where Do Gas Plant Operators Work?

Gas Plant Operators often work in the following industries.

Similar Careers

Below are careers that use skill sets that are similar to Gas Plant Operators.

Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.

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