Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators Salary
The median pay for a gas compressor and gas pumping station operators in Virginia is $64,990/year ($31.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $68,562 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 38.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $65K get you in Virginia?
About gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators in Virginia runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $77K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 38.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for gas compressor and gas pumping station operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level gas compressor and gas pumping station operators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a gas compressor and gas pumping station operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 38.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new gas compressor and gas pumping station operators typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,209/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is gas compressor and gas pumping station operator a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $65K here vs. $77K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for gas compressor and gas pumping station operators?
Virginia pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do gas compressor and gas pumping station operators make in Virginia?
The median is $64,990 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,820, and experienced gas compressor and gas pumping station operators can clear $98,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,241/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 38.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a gas compressor and gas pumping station operators salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median gas compressor and gas pumping station operators salary is worth about $68,562 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do gas compressor and gas pumping station operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.