Updated for 2026

Gas Pumping Station Operator Salary in 2026

This Gas Pumping Station Operator salary guide for 2026 centers on Careerclev's modeled national salary benchmark, built from the latest official BLS wage baseline and extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. It covers average salary, hourly pay, experience bands, salary by city, salary by state, industry premiums, in-demand skills, and long-term job outlook so readers can compare what drives higher compensation. Official BLS and O*NET title: "Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators".

Last updated: 20265,110 employment estimateFull salary breakdown12 min read
Average Salary
$68.3K
per year (USA)
Entry Level
$42.0K
starting range
Senior Level
$84.1K
upper percentile
Top Earners
$105K+
lead / principal
Hourly Rate
$33
avg. equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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What Does a Gas Pumping Station Operator Earn?

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Gas Pumping Station Operator pay at $68,280.0 per year in the United States. On the latest official 2024 BLS wage baseline, the lower end of the Gas Pumping Station Operator salary range starts around $43,950.0, while experienced professionals and top earners can reach $98,350.0 or more.

That national figure is only the starting point. In practice, pay for this role changes quickly once location, industry, experience level, and specialization enter the picture. A Gas Pumping Station Operator working in Michigan or a stronger salary industry like Utilities may see a very different salary path than someone in a lower-cost market, especially when skills like role-specific skills and advanced tools define the role.

Key 2026 BenchmarkThe national median Gas Pumping Station Operator salary is $68,280.0, with an estimated hourly equivalent of $33.

What Gas Pumping Station Operator Professionals Do

Operate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors. Transmit, compress, or recover gases, such as butane, nitrogen, hydrogen, and natural gas.

Typical Responsibilities

Monitor meters and pressure gauges to determine consumption rate variations, temperatures, and pressures.
Core
Respond to problems by adjusting control room equipment or instructing other personnel to adjust equipment at problem locations or in other control areas.
Core
Record instrument readings and operational changes in operating logs.
Core
Adjust valves and equipment to obtain specified performance.
Core
Move controls and turn valves to start compressor engines, pumps, and auxiliary equipment.
Core
Operate power-driven pumps that transfer liquids, semi-liquids, gases, or powdered materials.
Core
Related job titlesCompressor Operator, Compressor Station Operator, Compressor Technician, Fill Plant Operator, Filler, Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator)

Gas Pumping Station Operator Salary by Experience Level

Experience is one of the strongest salary drivers for Gas Pumping Station Operator roles. Entry-level workers usually sit closer to the lower salary band while senior, lead, and principal-level professionals move into higher ranges as they take on ownership, decision-making, mentoring, and more specialized work.

That progression matters because the headline median can hide how wide the real pay ladder is. For some roles, early-career pay stays close to the middle; for others, the gap between first-job pay and senior pay is large enough to change how attractive the path looks over time.

LevelExperienceAvg. Base SalaryEstimated Total PayGrowth vs Previous
Entry Level Gas Pumping Station Operator0-2 years$42,013.0$44.1K - $57.6KN/A
Mid Level Gas Pumping Station Operator3-5 years$68,270.0$59.8K - $91.7K+62.5%
Senior Level Gas Pumping Station Operator6-10 years$84,121.0$77.1K - $106K+23.2%
Lead / Principal Gas Pumping Station Operator10+ years$93,955.0$98.4K - $123K+11.7%
How to read the experience tableThe cards show the quick salary story, while the table gives a more detailed view of how Gas Pumping Station Operatorpay can move from entry-level work into senior and lead responsibility.

Gas Pumping Station Operator Salary by City

City salary differences matter because Gas Pumping Station Operator jobs are tied to local employer demand, cost of living, and industry concentration. Markets like Michigan and Kansas can pay very differently even when the job title looks the same on paper.

That is why city pages are often more useful than national averages once you are actively job searching. They show whether a stronger nominal salary comes from a genuinely better market, a more specialized employer mix, or simply a more expensive metro.

United States — City Comparison

CityProjected SalaryVs. National BenchmarkCost of Living Signal
Michigan$107,550+58%High salary market
Kansas$105,790+55%High salary market
Alaska$104,550+53%High salary market
Chicago, IL$98,810.0+45%High salary market
Indiana$98,360.0+44%High salary market
Ohio$91,740.0+34%High salary market
Cleveland, OH$90,490.0+33%High salary market
Houston, TX$88,080.0+29%High salary market
New Mexico$84,960.0+24%High salary market
West Virginia$78,780.0+15%Competitive
City salary pictureA higher Gas Pumping Station Operator salary in a major metro does not always mean higher take-home value. Housing, taxes, commuting, and remote-work flexibility can change the real outcome.
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Gas Pumping Station Operator Salary by Industry

Industry can change a Gas Pumping Station Operator salary as much as geography. Employers in Utilities may pay more when the role sits close to revenue, regulated operations, complex infrastructure, or scarce technical expertise.

IndustryProjected SalaryBonus PotentialJob SecurityGrowth Pace
Utilities$92,020.0HighStrongFast
Transportation and Warehousing$80,830.0HighStrongFast
Construction$79,940.0HighStrongFast
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction$64,810.0ModerateStrongFast
Manufacturing$63,410.0ModerateStrongModerate
Retail Trade$56,670.0ModerateModerateModerate
Wholesale Trade$49,480.0ModerateModerateModerate
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$49,020.0LowerModerateModerate
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$49,020.0LowerVariableSlow
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$48,860.0LowerVariableSlow

The strongest-paying industries for Gas Pumping Station Operator roles usually combine higher budgets with urgent business needs. Use this table to compare not only salary, but also the tradeoff between upside, stability, and long-term growth.

Gas Pumping Station Operator Salary by Skill Specialization

Skills shape salary because they tell employers what kind of problems a Gas Pumping Station Operator can solve. Strong signals around role-specific skills, advanced tools, tools, platforms, analysis, communication, and domain knowledge can help candidates move from average pay into stronger compensation bands.

Common tool stackO*NET maps Gas Pumping Station Operator work to tools such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Computerized maintenance management system CMMS, and Microsoft Office software.
role-specific skills can raise the ceilingThe most valuable Gas Pumping Station Operator skills are the ones connected to business-critical work, scarce tools, and hard-to-fill responsibilities. Pairing role-specific skills with advanced tools can make a candidate easier to price at the top of the salary range.

Remote vs Onsite vs Hybrid — Salary Comparison

Remote, onsite, and hybrid pay can shift the salary story for Gas Pumping Station Operator jobs. Remote roles often widen the hiring market, while onsite roles may pay more in expensive metros when employers need local availability, team coverage, or specialized workplace access.

Work TypeAvg. BaseExperienceBenefitsFlexibility
Remote Gas Pumping Station Operator$68,280.0Market dependentVariableHigh
Hybrid Gas Pumping Station Operator$70,328.4Metro dependentStrongMedium
Onsite Gas Pumping Station Operator$68,962.8Location dependentStrongLower

Hybrid roles can carry a small premium in high-cost cities, while fully remote roles can be especially powerful for workers outside the most expensive labor markets. The best comparison is total pay after location, taxes, commuting, and lifestyle costs.

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How to Become a Gas Pumping Station Operator

The most common path into Gas Pumping Station Operator work is to pair the expected baseline education with early hands-on practice and proof that you can handle the core responsibilities of the role. Candidates move faster when they can connect training, projects, internships, or prior adjacent work to the exact kinds of tasks employers hire gas pumping station operator professionals to do.

If you want the fuller step-by-step version, open the full How to Become a Gas Pumping Station Operator guide.

Practical shortcutThe strongest early candidates for Gas Pumping Station Operator jobs usually show job-relevant work samples, clear fundamentals, and evidence that they can contribute with limited supervision.
Knowledge areas employers associate with this roleProduction and Processing, Mechanical, Administration and Management, and Public Safety and Security.

Gas Pumping Station Operator Work Environment

Work environment can shape job fit just as much as salary. For Gas Pumping Station Operator, the day-to-day experience may vary based on employer type, digital vs on-site workflows, collaboration intensity, schedule predictability, and how much independent judgment the role requires.

Common work-style signalsO*NET highlights Dependability, Cautiousness, Attention to Detail, and Integrity for Gas Pumping Station Operator work.
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
E-Mail
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Entry-Level Gas Pumping Station Operator Salary Expectations

Entry-level Gas Pumping Station Operator salary expectations should be viewed as a starting range, not a ceiling. New workers in this role often earn around $42,013.0, with pay rising as they build practical experience, stronger judgment, better tools, and a clearer track record of delivering work without close supervision.

Internship / Trainee
$20/hr
$31.5K - $48.3K annualized
Early practical exposure, supervised assignments, portfolio building, and conversion into a first full-time role.
New Grad / Junior
$42.0K
$42.0K - $54.9K base
First full-time Gas Pumping Station Operator roles reward candidates who can show useful work, reliable fundamentals, and coachability.

Typical Promotion Timeline

Promotions usually follow the move from supervised work to independent delivery, then to broader ownership. Switching employers can sometimes accelerate salary growth when the current role has a narrow pay band.

StageTypical TimelineSalary JumpKey Milestone
Intern → JuniorInternship → first role$7.6K - $13.4KFirst full-time offer
Junior → Mid18-30 months$8.2K - $15.0KDeliver work independently
Mid → Senior2-4 years$10.1K - $18.5KOwn larger outcomes
Senior → Lead3-6 years$11.3K - $23.5KInfluence teams or strategy

Gas Pumping Station Operator Career Progression & Salary Path

This step is useful because experience level and career progression are related, but not identical. The pay path below shows how compensation tends to widen as the work moves from narrower execution into broader ownership and leadership scope.

1
Intern / Trainee
$41.5K$55.8K
Gas Pumping Station Operator compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
2
Junior
$51.5K$67.9K
Gas Pumping Station Operator compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$64.4K$80.1K
Gas Pumping Station Operator compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
4
Senior
$77.2K$100K
Gas Pumping Station Operator compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
5
Lead
$91.5K$116K
Gas Pumping Station Operator compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$107K$147K
Gas Pumping Station Operator compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.

Factors That Affect a Gas Pumping Station Operator's Salary

A Gas Pumping Station Operator salary is rarely determined by job title alone. Employers also price the role based on education, certifications, tools used, industry setting, workplace responsibility, and how difficult it is to find qualified candidates with the same mix of skills.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

Gas Pumping Station Operator Job Demand & Market Outlook

The Gas Pumping Station Operator job outlook matters because demand affects hiring, salary growth, and how much leverage qualified workers have. The current projection points to -1.3% employment change from 2024 to 2034, which helps explain whether employers are likely to keep competing for qualified talent.

Salary is easier to interpret when it sits next to a demand signal. Strong wages in a shrinking field can tell a very different story from strong wages in a role where openings, replacement demand, and market expansion are all still active.

BLS Employment ProjectionEmployment is projected to change by -1.3% from 2024 to 2034.
DecliningAnnual openings: 0.6 thousand.
Metric2026 Status
Projected employment5.4k → 5.3k
Typical educationUsually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Related experienceSome occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Remote job availabilityMeaningful for roles with portable work and digital workflows
Salary market signalMedian pay of $68,280.0 suggests a solid compensation track.

How to Increase Your Gas Pumping Station Operator Salary

The most reliable way to increase a Gas Pumping Station Operator salary is to make your value easier for employers to measure. That usually means building stronger evidence around outcomes, expanding into higher-value skills, moving toward better-paying industries, and negotiating with current market salary data in hand.

StrategyAvg. Salary ImpactTimelineEffort Level
Benchmark against stronger markets+15-30%1-3 monthsHigh ROI
Build a visible specialization$8.2K - $19.1K3-9 monthsMedium
Target higher-paying industries$5.5K - $12.3K2-6 monthsMedium
The fastest salary liftFor many Gas Pumping Station Operator professionals, the fastest path is a focused mix of stronger proof, higher-value skills, and better market selection. Salary gains usually come faster when candidates combine a clear portfolio with targeted applications and negotiation.

Gas Pumping Station Operator vs Similar Career Salaries

Comparing Gas Pumping Station Operator salary with Airline Pilot and other nearby careers helps show whether this job title is underpaid, fairly priced, or part of a stronger salary path. These comparisons are useful when choosing between roles, planning a career move, or deciding which skills to build next.

Airline Pilot
$227K
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Air Traffic Controller
$145K
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Commercial Pilot
$123K
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Ship Engineer
$101K
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Aviation Inspector
$85.8K
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Ship Captain
$85.5K
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Subway and Streetcar Operator
$84.8K
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Locomotive Engineer
$77.4K
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Frequently Asked Questions

These questions usually come up after readers compare the national salary, experience bands, and city differences. Together they clarify how to read the salary data and what to pay attention to when you compare this role with nearby careers.

What is the average Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators salary?
The latest national baseline for Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators is about $71,500 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators salary?
Entry-level estimates for Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $44,000 per year nationally.
How much can senior Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators professionals earn?
Senior Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $88,100 per year nationally.
Does location affect Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
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Data Sources & Methodology
Updated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
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