Transportation & Logistics
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
Also called: Compressor Operator, Compressor Station Operator, Compressor Technician, Fill Plant Operator
US median pay
$77,320
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2.1%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
300
3,500 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Operate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors. Transmit, compress, or recover gases, such as butane, nitrogen, hydrogen, and natural gas.
What they do day to day
- Monitor meters and pressure gauges to determine consumption rate variations, temperatures, and pressures.
- Respond to problems by adjusting control room equipment or instructing other personnel to adjust equipment at problem locations or in other control areas.
- Record instrument readings and operational changes in operating logs.
- Adjust valves and equipment to obtain specified performance.
- Move controls and turn valves to start compressor engines, pumps, and auxiliary equipment.
- Operate power-driven pumps that transfer liquids, semi-liquids, gases, or powdered materials.
- Submit daily reports on facility operations.
- Take samples of gases and conduct chemical tests to determine gas quality and sulfur or moisture content, or send samples to laboratories for analysis.
- Read gas meters, and maintain records of the amounts of gas received and dispensed from holders.
- Turn knobs or switches to regulate pressures.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring4.0/5
- Operation and Control3.9/5
- Troubleshooting3.1/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Repairing3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing4.6/5
- Mechanical4.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.9/5
- Administration and Management3.8/5
- Chemistry3.7/5
- English Language3.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma65%
- Associate's degree14%
- Some college11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.