Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
Transportation and Material Moving
Compressors driven by steam, gas, electric motors, or internal combustion engines move, compress, or recover gases such as butane, nitrogen, hydrogen, and natural gas. In a control room you watch meters and pressure gauges for changes in consumption, temperature, and pressure, then adjust valves and equipment or tell others to adjust equipment at the problem spot while starting and stopping engines, pumps, and auxiliary equipment. Instrument readings go into logs, daily reports cover the facility, and gas samples may be tested on site for quality, sulfur, or moisture, or sent to a laboratory. Suits people who like watching instruments, keeping a process inside set limits, and writing down what changed.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$77'320
Median Wage Market Position
$77'320
What you might do
- Watch meters for pressure, temperature, and flow
- Start compressor engines, pumps, and other equipment
- Turn valves to keep pressure and flow steady
- Tell others to adjust equipment at problem spots
- Log instrument readings and operating changes
- Test gas samples for sulfur or moisture
Skills that matter
- Station meter and gauge watch
- Control-room equipment adjustments
- Station compressor and pump startups
- Operating-log entries for readings
- Sulfur and moisture tests of gas
- Crew direction for remote equipment fixes
AI & the future of this role
Remote sensors and control systems may handle more routine compression monitoring and adjustments over time. On-site judgment for equipment faults, safety-critical gas handling, and keeping stations running still tends to require trained operators.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details