How to become a gas compressor and gas pumping station operator
Operate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors. Transmit, compress, or recover gases, such as butane, nitrogen, hydrogen, and natural gas.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some 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.
What gas compressor and gas pumping station operators do
- Monitor meters and pressure gauges to determine consumption rate variations, temperatures, and pressures.
- 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.
- Turn knobs or switches to regulate pressures.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
Is gas compressor and gas pumping station operator a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 52% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.