Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 53-7071 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$77,314
$37.17/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is $77,314 per year ($37.17/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $58,594 and $91,021 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $99,507 per year. There are approximately 3,510 gas compressor and gas pumping station operators employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Operate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors. Transmit, compress, or recover gases, such as butane, nitrogen, hydrogen, and natural gas.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-1.3%
Slower than average
Annual openings
600
per year, on avg
Workforce today
5K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
NAICS 486200
1K
$90,730
Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
NAICS 423800
350
$48,540
Natural Gas Distribution
NAICS 221200
290
$83,220
Fuel Dealers
NAICS 457200
230
$57,550
Oil and Gas Extraction
NAICS 211100
200
$74,230
Wage range across top 5 industries: $48,540 to $90,730 (87% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$22.20
$46,176
P25
$28.17
$58,594
P50MEDIAN
$37.17
$77,314
P75
$43.76
$91,021
P90
$47.84
$99,507
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · other sector
Active
Openings Rate
3.4%
Quits Rate
2.0%
The labor market rebounded in March: hires jumped to 5.6M (+655K) and separations rose to 5.4M (+356K), both more than offsetting February's drop. Job openings held at 6.9M. Quits ticked to 2.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average gas compressor and gas pumping station operators salary?
The national median salary for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is $77,314 per year ($37.17/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $58,594 and $91,021 annually.
How much do top-earning gas compressor and gas pumping station operators make?
The 90th percentile salary for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is $99,507 per year ($47.84/hr). The 75th percentile is $91,021 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators?
Entry-level Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (10th percentile) earn approximately $46,176 per year ($22.20/hr). The 25th percentile is $58,594 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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