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Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

51-8092 Gas Plant Operators



Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Minnesota 36031$45.75/hr$38.51/hr$40.61/hr$49.42/hr$49.44/hr$49.47/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Trade, Transportation and Utilities360$49.42/hr
Public AdministrationN/AN/A
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Northwest Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Southeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Southwest Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Southeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Rochester MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
St Cloud MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Central Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 280$49.42/hrN/A
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 290$49.42/hrN/A
Minnesota 360$49.42/hr-9.8%


Occupations Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gagers 550$50.12/hr-4.9%
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators 1,440$37.30/hr3.3%
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers 60$29.33/hr3.5%
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators N/AN/AN/A
Power Plant Operators 970$46.42/hr-10.7%


  • Change charts in recording meters.
  • Clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed.
  • Collaborate with other operators to solve unit problems.
  • Read logsheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions.
  • Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
  • Start and shut down plant equipment.
  • Calculate gas ratios to detect deviations from specifications, using testing apparatus.
  • Control fractioning columns, compressors, purifying towers, heat exchangers, and related equipment to extract nitrogen and oxygen from air.
  • Control operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment to liquefy, compress, or regasify natural gas.
  • Adjust temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of gas to maintain processes at required levels or to correct problems.