How much does a Pipeline Operator make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pipeline Operator in the United States is $81,504 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.
However, a Pipeline Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,404
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,219 to $88,780
Key Factors That Influence Pipeline Operator Salaries
A Pipeline Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Do Pipeline Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pipeline Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $102,801
San Francisco: $101,675
Oakland: $99,533
San Jose, CA$102,801
San Francisco, CA$101,675
Oakland, CA$99,533
New York, NY$93,843
Paramus, NJ$92,702
Queens Village, NY$92,698
Passaic, NJ$92,620
Bergenfield, NJ$92,613
Stamford, CT$92,434
Huntington, NY$92,400
Newark, NJ$91,798
Bridgeport, CT$91,626
Vallejo, CA$91,464
New Brunswick, NJ$91,431
Petaluma, CA$91,382
Middlesex, NJ$91,227
Somerset, NJ$91,170
Santa Cruz, CA$91,064
Boston, MA$90,567
Monterey, CA$90,281
Seattle, WA$90,095
Santa Rosa, CA$90,078
Los Angeles, CA$90,054
Juneau, AK$89,842
Washington, DC$89,752
Orange, CA$89,462
Santa Ana, CA$89,247
Long Beach, CA$89,165
Anaheim, CA$89,149
Anchorage, AK$89,108
Santa Maria, CA$88,864
Everett, WA$88,848
Danbury, CT$88,561
Bremerton, WA$88,448
Tacoma, WA$88,155
New Suffolk, NY$88,153
Sacramento, CA$88,130
Santa Barbara, CA$88,041
Trenton, NJ$87,951
San Diego, CA$87,951
Brockton, MA$87,861
Fairbanks, AK$87,662
Lompoc, CA$87,454
Lowell, MA$87,388
Ventura, CA$87,372
Nashua, NH$87,356
Stockton, CA$87,348
Modesto, CA$86,753
Poughkeepsie, NY$86,574
Olympia, WA$86,419
Kennewick, WA$86,419
New Haven, CT$86,386
Lawrence, MA$86,093
Hartford, CT$86,011
Riverside, CA$85,995
New Bedford, MA$85,913
Richland, WA$85,913
Bakersfield, CA$85,799
San Bernardino, CA$85,767
New Britain, CT$85,759
Atlantic City, NJ$85,759
New London, CT$85,726
Norwich, CT$85,701
Portsmouth, NH$85,685
Boulder, CO$85,512
Portland, OR$85,400
Worcester, MA$85,392
Minneapolis, MN$85,139
Philadelphia, PA$85,025
Honolulu, HI$84,756
Saint Paul, MN$84,717
Vineland, NJ$84,699
Providence, RI$84,463
Chicago, IL$84,226
Bellingham, WA$84,128
Springfield, MA$84,063
Baltimore, MD$84,039
Chico, CA$83,835
Pittsfield, MA$83,615
Manchester, NH$83,460
Spokane, WA$83,101
Denver, CO$83,093
Albany, NY$82,710
Troy, NY$82,678
Nassau, NY$82,590
Schenectady, NY$82,506
Wilmington, DE$82,441
Burlington, VT$82,327
Salem, OR$82,295
Portland, ME$82,042
Yakima, WA$81,960
Rochester, MN$81,708
Reno, NV$81,667
Fresno, CA$81,667
Milwaukee, WI$81,594
Detroit, MI$81,512
Ann Arbor, MI$81,498
Allentown, PA$81,488
Colorado Springs, CO$81,349
Syracuse, NY$81,308
Carson City, NV$81,308
Houston, TX$81,194
Eugene, OR$81,154
Gary, IN$81,056
Springfield, OR$80,991
Bismarck, ND$80,974
Galveston, TX$80,917
Medford, OR$80,795
Fort Collins, CO$80,762
Concord, NH$80,722
Austin, TX$80,697
Mesa, AZ$80,526
Reading, PA$80,518
Phoenix, AZ$80,510
Dallas, TX$80,485
Saint Cloud, MN$80,407
Madison, WI$80,298
Utica, NY$80,078
Rochester, NY$79,947
Des Moines, IA$79,939
Raleigh, NC$79,931
Atlanta, GA$79,809
Battle Creek, MI$79,784
Salt Lake City, UT$79,760
Lancaster, PA$79,638
Harrisburg, PA$79,523
Kansas City, MO$79,442
Champaign, IL$79,426
Kansas City, KS$79,426
Fort Worth, TX$79,417
Columbus, OH$79,404
Boca Raton, FL$79,385
Pittsburgh, PA$79,352
Richmond, VA$79,320
Indianapolis, IN$79,303
Cleveland, OH$79,295
Las Vegas, NV$79,197
Cincinnati, OH$79,197
Petersburg, VA$79,075
Huntsville, AL$78,953
Lansing, MI$78,898
Lebanon, PA$78,888
Pueblo, CO$78,880
Appleton, WI$78,855
Buffalo, NY$78,823
Dayton, OH$78,798
Racine, WI$78,782
Charlotte, NC$78,774
Saint Louis, MO$78,749
York, PA$78,700
Elkhart, IN$78,700
Gastonia, NC$78,685
Billings, MT$78,665
Beaumont, TX$78,643
Lorain, OH$78,627
Benton Harbor, MI$78,611
Toledo, OH$78,594
Binghamton, NY$78,554
Rock Hill, SC$78,545
Rockford, IL$78,505
Springfield, IL$78,472
Elyria, OH$78,464
Fargo, ND$78,464
Flagstaff, AZ$78,407
Fort Lauderdale, FL$78,358
Duluth, MN$78,309
Miami, FL$78,309
Cheyenne, WY$78,252
Grand Forks, ND$78,252
Bangor, ME$78,073
Cedar Rapids, IA$77,983
Durham, NC$77,949
Louisville, KY$77,942
Grand Rapids, MI$77,926
Hialeah, FL$77,918
Casper, WY$77,804
Scranton, PA$77,706
New Orleans, LA$77,681
Virginia Beach, VA$77,673
Akron, OH$77,633
Peoria, IL$77,527
Sarasota, FL$77,510
Nashville, TN$77,453
Omaha, NE$77,453
Green Bay, WI$77,453
Baton Rouge, LA$77,412
Charleston, SC$77,396
Jamestown, NY$77,355
Davenport, IA$77,355
Tucson, AZ$77,315
Saint Petersburg, FL$77,266
Tampa, FL$77,249
Evansville, IN$77,201
Port Arthur, TX$77,201
Bradenton, FL$77,168
Santa Fe, NM$77,021
Orlando, FL$76,875
Clearwater, FL$76,850
Canton, OH$76,679
La Crosse, WI$76,679
Albuquerque, NM$76,630
Newport News, VA$76,622
High Point, NC$76,597
Ogden, UT$76,565
Corpus Christi, TX$76,500
Norfolk, VA$76,451
Laramie, WY$76,451
Rock Island, IL$76,402
Saginaw, MI$76,386
Jacksonville, FL$76,377
Salisbury, NC$76,361
Boise, ID$76,345
Moline, IL$76,304
Fort Myers, FL$76,280
Memphis, TN$76,263
Tulsa, OK$76,223
Waterloo, IA$76,174
Spartanburg, SC$76,092
Lincoln, NE$76,051
Fort Wayne, IN$76,035
Provo, UT$76,027
Cedar Falls, IA$75,929
San Antonio, TX$75,897
Greensboro, NC$75,864
South Bend, IN$75,856
Savannah, GA$75,766
Muskegon, MI$75,734
Birmingham, AL$75,725
Winston Salem, NC$75,685
Lake Charles, LA$75,489
Anderson, IN$75,473
Lexington, KY$75,448
Augusta, GA$75,424
Greenville, SC$75,424
Lima, OH$75,359
Wichita, KS$75,350
Tuscaloosa, AL$75,350
Columbia, SC$75,277
Springfield, OH$75,261
Asheville, NC$75,130
Bloomington, IN$75,073
Knoxville, TN$74,780
Shreveport, LA$74,772
Wilmington, NC$74,666
Roanoke, VA$74,666
Topeka, KS$74,519
Frankfort, KY$74,510
Oklahoma City, OK$74,454
Chillicothe, OH$74,421
Longview, TX$74,413
Melbourne, FL$74,405
Sioux Falls, SD$74,275
Mobile, AL$74,266
Terre Haute, IN$74,234
Altoona, PA$74,185
Amarillo, TX$74,128
Killeen, TX$74,103
Fayetteville, AR$74,038
Chattanooga, TN$74,014
Sioux City, IA$73,940
Idaho Falls, ID$73,924
Lynchburg, VA$73,859
Gainesville, FL$73,753
Portsmouth, OH$73,712
Little Rock, AR$73,696
Lafayette, LA$73,663
Youngstown, OH$73,663
Daytona Beach, FL$73,614
Clarksville, TN$73,606
Pensacola, FL$73,598
Temple, TX$73,592
Hopkinsville, KY$73,354
Erie, PA$73,337
Florence, SC$73,305
Charleston, WV$73,174
Great Falls, MT$73,134
Macon, GA$73,019
Tallahassee, FL$73,011
Fayetteville, NC$72,995
Waco, TX$72,979
Helena, MT$72,922
Pine Bluff, AR$72,891
Vincennes, IN$72,791
Lubbock, TX$72,759
Alamogordo, NM$72,710
Twin Falls, ID$72,636
Rapid City, SD$72,612
Jackson, MS$72,465
Huntington, WV$72,460
Greenville, MS$72,457
Parkersburg, WV$72,374
Montgomery, AL$72,359
Wichita Falls, TX$72,278
Springfield, MO$72,278
Biloxi, MS$72,237
Monroe, LA$72,155
Johnstown, PA$72,098
Sumter, SC$72,066
Columbus, GA$72,058
Pascagoula, MS$71,903
Abilene, TX$71,903
Kingsport, TN$71,691
Albany, GA$71,691
Gulfport, MS$71,666
Alexandria, LA$71,398
Fort Smith, AR$71,194
El Paso, TX$70,974
Las Cruces, NM$70,607
Harlingen, TX$70,400
Pocatello, ID$70,387
Florence, AL$70,281
Brownsville, TX$70,265
Mcallen, TX$70,093
Dothan, AL$69,979
Columbus, MS$69,495
Altus, OK$69,115
Lawton, OK$68,961
Pierre, SD$68,667
What Skills Can Increase a Pipeline Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Commitment (Mentioned in 8.55% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Product Quality (Mentioned in 4.69% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Repairing (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): To put something that is damaged, broken, or not working correctly, back into good condition or make it work again.
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Pipeline Operator's salary.
Land Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Sense Of Urgency: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
How Education impacts a Pipeline Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Pipeline Operators enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Pipeline Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$72,833
and $75,649).
Pipeline Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Pipeline Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Salaries for a Pipeline Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $80,838 in 2023
to around $77,508 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Pipeline Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Pipeline Operator Over Time
$???
$80,838
$78,474
$77,508
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$80,838
2024
$78,474
2025
$77,508
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Pipeline Operator
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Pipeline Operator
Here are companies hiring for Pipeline Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$126,909/per year
Consolidated Edison Company of New York IncEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
G$121,776/per year
GE Renewable EnergyEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
C$117,881/per year
Chint Electric International Co LtdEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
C$112,827/per year
Constellation Energy CorpEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
P$110,892/per year
Plains GP Holdings LPEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
W$109,070/per year
Weatherford International PLCEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
E$108,905/per year
Enterprise Products Partners LPEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
C$108,399/per year
Constellation Technology VenturesEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
P$105,977/per year
Plains All American Pipeline LPEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
A$104,755/per year
Areva SAEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
H$103,814/per year
Hf Sinclair CorpEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
F$103,342/per year
Florida Power & Light CoEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
G$102,127/per year
GreymartEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
G$98,523/per year
Golden Alpha IncEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
A$97,825/per year
Alaska Chadux CorpEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
M$92,856/per year
Major EnergyEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
W$91,703/per year
Waste Recovery SystemsEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
A$91,604/per year
ADS-TEC Energy PLCEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
G$88,905/per year
Great American Disposal CoEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
W$86,937/per year
Wieland DiversifiedEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
M$86,069/per year
Moser Energy SystemsEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
L$85,884/per year
Longevity PartnersEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
P$82,126/per year
PricingUtilities.comEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
B$78,189/per year
Blue Water ResourcesEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
C$76,117/per year
Carbon Rivers LLCEnergy & Utilitiesthe United States
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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
