Prevailing Wage for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
The prevailing wage for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (SOC 53-7071) sets the minimum a U.S. employer must pay when sponsoring a Compressor Operator, Compressor Station Operator, or similar role on an H-1B, E-3, or PERM green card petition. DOL sets four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly by worksite city.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level Compressor Operators new to the occupation, typically with no prior industry experience. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine, and the employee is expected to follow established procedures without independent judgment.
Level 2 applies to qualified operators with practical field experience who perform standard compressor and pumping duties with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators on H-1B and PERM petitions.
Level 3 covers experienced operators who handle complex or non-routine compressor systems, exercise independent judgment, and may troubleshoot equipment failures without direct supervision. Often reflects several years of continuous field experience.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior operators or lead technicians responsible for the most complex operations, mentoring junior staff, and making independent technical decisions. Employers filing at this level typically cite supervisory or specialist responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
Confirm your worksite matches the LCA city
Compressor and pumping stations are often located outside major metros in areas like Greeley, CO, where the prevailing wage is considerably lower than Chicago or Houston. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, not the employer's headquarters, so verify which metro area controls your wage floor.
Watch for off-shift and hazard pay exclusions
Gas compressor roles frequently include night-shift differentials, hazard pay, and overtime in the total compensation package. DOL counts only the base hourly or salaried wage against the prevailing wage floor; shift premiums and hazard bonuses do not satisfy the requirement on their own.
Understand why Level 2 dominates filings for this role
Most sponsors file LCAs for Compressor Technicians and LNG Plant Operators at Level 2 because the role requires hands-on experience but not supervisory scope. If your offer letter cites a lead or senior title, confirm the filing level reflects that seniority or the petition may understate your wage floor.
Find employers sponsoring this role on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring Compressor Operators and similar gas operations roles, so you can target companies already familiar with the LCA and H-1B process for this specific occupation rather than employers new to sponsoring blue-collar technical roles.
Jobs for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-7071.00 alongside Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Compressor Operator Prevailing Wage
Compressor Operator Prevailing Wage
Compressor Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Compressor Station Operator Prevailing Wage
Compressor Station Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Compressor Station Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Compressor Technician Prevailing Wage
Compressor Technician Prevailing Wage
Compressor Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Fill Plant Operator Prevailing Wage
Fill Plant Operator Prevailing Wage
Fill Plant Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Filler Prevailing Wage
Filler Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Filler for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator) Prevailing Wage
Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator) Prevailing Wage
Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pipeline Technician Prevailing Wage
Pipeline Technician Prevailing Wage
Pipeline Technician positions fall under SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Plant Operator Prevailing Wage
Plant Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Plant Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Terminal Operator Prevailing Wage
Terminal Operator Prevailing Wage
Terminal Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7071.00 (Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for SOC 53-7071. Wages are broken into four levels based on experience and job complexity. Employers file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC, attesting they will pay at least the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with standard duties; Level 3 is experienced with independent judgment; Level 4 is fully competent with senior or lead scope. Your level is determined by the job duties described in the LCA, not your job title. Review the petition's description of daily tasks and supervision to confirm the level matches your actual responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same compressor operator role vary so much between cities?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys that reflect local labor market conditions. A Compressor Station Operator role in Chicago commands a significantly higher floor than the same role in Greeley, CO, because local wage data differs. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the metro area where the compressor station physically sits determines which OES survey data applies, regardless of where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage is below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. USCIS will deny an H-1B petition if the underlying LCA is deficient on wage grounds. For PERM green card cases, OFLC will audit or deny applications where the offered wage does not meet the prevailing wage determination. The employer must raise the offer or refile at the correct level before sponsorship can proceed.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 53-7071 at the specific metropolitan area where the worksite is located. Select the applicable wage level based on the job duties in your offer. For sponsored job listings filtered by employer sponsorship history for gas operations roles, Migrate Mate lets you search by role and location to identify companies that have previously sponsored positions in this occupation.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators right now.
Search Jobs for this role