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Top 15 cities for gas plant operators by average salary
| Los Angeles, CA | $121,110 |
|---|---|
| New York, NY | $115,310 |
| Riverside, CA | $114,070 |
| Portland, OR | $110,150 |
| Detroit, MI | $103,970 |
| San Diego, CA | $102,160 |
| Boston, MA | $101,820 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $100,860 |
| Denver, CO | $99,940 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $96,920 |
| Chicago, IL | $96,520 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $95,240 |
| Washington, DC | $94,920 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $94,320 |
| Davenport, IA | $93,510 |
Map: Gas Plant Operators salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Gas Plant Operators salary by state
California pays gas plant operators the most statewide, $120,680 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $120,680 | $130,220 | 800 | 3 | $121,110 | $102,160 |
| New Jersey | $111,490 | $110,900 | 190 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oregon | $110,010 | $109,760 | 70 | 1 | $110,150 | $110,150 |
| Connecticut | $103,270 | $109,060 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $102,210 | $103,830 | 340 | 1 | $101,820 | $101,820 |
| Michigan | $101,500 | $100,500 | 540 | 2 | $103,970 | $100,860 |
| New York | $99,740 | $98,390 | 240 | 2 | $115,310 | $85,980 |
| North Dakota | $99,740 | $96,760 | 770 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona | $99,250 | $104,600 | 140 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| South Dakota | $97,770 | $101,450 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Maryland | $95,350 | $102,950 | 180 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $94,920 | $94,920 |
| Utah | $94,590 | $98,300 | 160 | 1 | $96,920 | $96,920 |
| Colorado | $93,470 | $98,080 | 570 | 2 | $99,940 | $83,740 |
| Louisiana | $93,270 | $108,350 | 800 | 1 | $95,240 | $95,240 |
| Minnesota | $93,040 | $100,500 | 360 | 1 | $94,320 | $94,320 |
| Arkansas | $91,850 | $100,870 | 400 | 2 | $82,960 | $81,970 |
| New Mexico | $91,050 | $97,660 | 300 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | $90,040 | $97,810 | 530 | 1 | $96,520 | $96,520 |
| Maine | $89,750 | $93,990 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wyoming | $88,140 | $81,550 | 480 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $87,760 | $87,790 | 270 | 1 | $89,890 | $89,890 |
| Virginia | $87,150 | $86,500 | 400 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Indiana | $86,770 | $85,790 | 280 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | $86,700 | $83,650 | 120 | 1 | $87,580 | $87,580 |
| Iowa | $86,690 | $92,970 | 480 | 2 | $93,510 | $90,090 |
| Missouri | $86,680 | $87,820 | 220 | 1 | $76,720 | $76,720 |
| North Carolina | $85,560 | $81,460 | 320 | 1 | $90,980 | $90,980 |
| Montana | $85,420 | $83,630 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $85,100 | $85,080 | 150 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $84,020 | $80,810 | 1,370 | 3 | $86,780 | $84,340 |
| Kansas | $82,430 | $80,760 | 350 | 1 | $82,090 | $82,090 |
| Texas | $81,770 | $79,910 | 2,550 | 4 | $85,040 | $79,240 |
| Idaho | $81,240 | $79,280 | 50 | 1 | $78,850 | $78,850 |
| Ohio | $81,040 | $82,130 | 570 | 3 | $85,460 | $59,830 |
| West Virginia | $80,530 | $82,600 | 420 | 3 | $85,340 | $71,270 |
| Georgia | $80,440 | $81,220 | 110 | 1 | $85,780 | $85,780 |
| Mississippi | $78,290 | $81,600 | 340 | 1 | $76,390 | $76,390 |
| Oklahoma | $77,580 | $78,310 | 970 | 2 | $80,620 | $75,530 |
| Alabama | $75,660 | $77,120 | n/a | 2 | $81,880 | $78,090 |
| Tennessee | $71,020 | $66,560 | 200 | 2 | $78,750 | $68,550 |
| South Carolina | $69,080 | $67,580 | 280 | 3 | $73,010 | $63,350 |
| Florida | $67,630 | $67,170 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $67,080 | $63,070 | 200 | 1 | $77,130 | $77,130 |
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Gas Plant Operators salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $121,110 | $125,550 | $58.22 | 210 |
| New York, NY | $115,310 | $118,870 | $55.44 | 270 |
| Riverside, CA | $114,070 | $124,480 | $54.84 | 90 |
| Portland, OR | $110,150 | $118,640 | $52.96 | 50 |
| Detroit, MI | $103,970 | $108,650 | $49.99 | 290 |
| San Diego, CA | $102,160 | $98,900 | $49.12 | 120 |
| Boston, MA | $101,820 | $104,770 | $48.95 | 210 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $100,860 | $104,440 | $48.49 | 40 |
| Denver, CO | $99,940 | $98,640 | $48.05 | 360 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $96,920 | $102,390 | $46.59 | 50 |
| Chicago, IL | $96,520 | $102,810 | $46.40 | 340 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $95,240 | $113,570 | $45.79 | 100 |
| Washington, DC | $94,920 | $99,880 | $45.64 | 180 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $94,320 | $100,500 | $45.35 | 290 |
| Davenport, IA | $93,510 | $92,970 | $44.96 | 40 |
| Charlotte, NC | $90,980 | $89,140 | $43.74 | 120 |
| Des Moines, IA | $90,090 | $95,260 | $43.31 | 100 |
| Omaha, NE | $89,890 | $91,320 | $43.22 | 130 |
| Seattle, WA | $87,580 | $97,080 | $42.11 | 50 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $86,780 | $81,600 | $41.72 | 440 |
| Buffalo, NY | $85,980 | $85,350 | $41.34 | 50 |
| York, PA | $85,840 | $94,170 | $41.27 | 40 |
| Atlanta, GA | $85,780 | $95,430 | $41.24 | 50 |
| Cleveland, OH | $85,460 | $86,290 | $41.09 | 40 |
| Wheeling, WV | $85,340 | $82,720 | $41.03 | 80 |
| Houston, TX | $85,040 | $85,530 | $40.89 | 1,510 |
| Charleston, WV | $84,660 | $85,790 | $40.70 | 100 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $84,340 | $89,430 | $40.55 | 190 |
| Greeley, CO | $83,740 | $80,950 | $40.26 | 40 |
| Fayetteville, AR | $82,960 | $88,460 | $39.89 | 30 |
| Wichita, KS | $82,090 | $78,950 | $39.47 | 30 |
| Fort Smith, AR | $81,970 | $74,230 | $39.41 | 50 |
| Birmingham, AL | $81,880 | $80,280 | $39.37 | 140 |
| Columbus, OH | $81,150 | $81,700 | $39.01 | 70 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $80,620 | $78,310 | $38.76 | 230 |
| College Station, TX | $80,580 | $79,770 | $38.74 | 30 |
| Midland, TX | $80,280 | $79,910 | $38.60 | 90 |
| Dallas, TX | $79,240 | $81,430 | $38.10 | 200 |
| Boise, ID | $78,850 | $79,280 | $37.91 | 30 |
| Memphis, TN | $78,750 | $66,560 | $37.86 | 110 |
| Mobile, AL | $78,090 | $80,230 | $37.54 | 60 |
| Louisville, KY | $77,130 | $78,730 | $37.08 | 60 |
| Kansas City, MO | $76,720 | $81,290 | $36.89 | 60 |
| Jackson, MS | $76,390 | $80,270 | $36.73 | 60 |
| Tulsa, OK | $75,530 | $78,550 | $36.31 | 270 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $73,010 | $79,170 | $35.10 | 50 |
| Huntington, WV | $71,270 | $77,770 | $34.27 | 30 |
| Columbia, SC | $68,820 | $81,960 | $33.09 | 40 |
| Nashville, TN | $68,550 | $66,970 | $32.96 | 70 |
| Greenville, SC | $63,350 | $57,080 | $30.46 | 60 |
| Toledo, OH | $59,830 | $57,530 | $28.77 | 30 |
Related jobs
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsU.S. average $62,540
- Power Plant OperatorsU.S. average $99,790
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsU.S. average $83,960
- Chemical Plant and System OperatorsU.S. average $79,970
- Plant and System Operators, All OtherU.S. average $65,700
- Power Distributors and DispatchersU.S. average $111,320
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersU.S. average $90,630
- Nuclear Power Reactor OperatorsU.S. average $121,380
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Gas Plant Operators salary: questions
Where do gas plant operators make the most money?
In Los Angeles, CA, with an average of $121,110 a year, among the 51 metro areas we cover.
What is the average gas plant operators salary in the U.S.?
$88,710 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $87,820, so half of gas plant operators earn more than that and half less.
What salary should gas plant operators ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of gas plant operators nationwide earn between $76,870 (25th percentile) and $100,870 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays gas plant operators the most?
California, with a statewide average of $120,680 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is gas plant operators pay the lowest?
Toledo, OH, at $59,830 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8092.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.