National
| Median wages (2008) |
$26.81 hourly, $55,760 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
12,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Decline rapidly (-10% or lower)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
3,000 additional employees |
51-8092.00 - Gas Plant Operators
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
Sample of reported job titles:
Plant Operator, Gas Dispatcher, Gas Plant Operator, Gas Controller, Gas System Operator, Liquified Natural Gas Technician (LNG Technician), Compressor Station Operator, Engine Room Operator, Liquid Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator), Liquified Natural Gas Specialist (LNG Specialist)
Tasks
- Monitor transportation and storage of flammable and other potentially dangerous products to ensure that safety guidelines are followed.
- Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks, in order to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
- Control operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment in order to liquefy, compress, or regasify natural gas.
- Start and shut down plant equipment.
- Record, review, and compile operations records, test results, and gauge readings such as temperatures, pressures, concentrations, and flows.
- Adjust temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, and/or transfer of gas to maintain processes at required levels or to correct problems.
- 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.
- Determine causes of abnormal pressure variances, and make corrective recommendations, such as installation of pipes to relieve overloading.
- Read logsheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions.
| 51-4193.00 |
Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-6091.00 |
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers |
| 51-8013.00 |
Power Plant Operators
|
| 51-8021.00 |
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
|
| 51-8093.00 |
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers |
| 51-9012.00 |
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
|
| 53-7071.00 |
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators |
| 53-7073.00 |
Wellhead Pumpers |
