Mid-Level

Gas Operations Manager

The utility operations leader — ensuring safe, reliable gas delivery through pipeline management and field crew coordination.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
R
I
S
A
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Gas Operations Managers
Employment concentration · ~372 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Gas Operations Manager

As a Gas Operations Manager, you're responsible for the safe and reliable operation of natural gas distribution infrastructure. You're managing field crews, overseeing pipeline maintenance, responding to emergencies, and ensuring compliance with strict safety regulations. When the phone rings at 3 AM about a gas leak, you're the one making decisions.

Your day balances planned maintenance with emergency response. You might start reviewing crew schedules and work orders, then respond to a service call escalation, then meet with engineering about a pipeline replacement project, then review compliance documentation for an upcoming audit. Safety is the constant theme — in gas operations, a mistake can be catastrophic.

The hardest part is maintaining vigilance when nothing is going wrong. Complacency is the enemy. You need to build a safety culture where crews follow procedures even when they've done something a thousand times. The people who thrive here are safety-obsessed, can manage both routine and crisis, and earn respect from field crews through competence.

IndependenceHigh
Working ConditionsAbove avg
RelationshipsAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Distribution vs transmissionUrban vs ruralCompany sizeRegulatory environmentInfrastructure age
Gas operations varies by system type and geography. Distribution systems focus on local delivery to customers with smaller pipes and more service calls. Transmission systems involve large high-pressure pipelines with different risk profiles. Urban operations deal with congestion and third-party damage; rural operations cover more geography with fewer crews. Aging infrastructure requires more maintenance and replacement programs.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Gas Operations Managers (SOC 11-3051.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Gas Operations Manager career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Regulatory affairs
Directors interface heavily with PUCs and federal regulators
2
Capital planning
Infrastructure investment decisions require financial sophistication
3
Executive communication
Senior roles involve presenting to boards and regulators
What's the age and condition of the distribution system I'd be managing?
How is emergency response structured — on-call, dedicated crews?
What's the relationship with the regulatory commission like?
How are capital projects prioritized and funded?
What safety management systems are in place?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$75K–$197K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
234K
U.S. Employment
+1.9%
10yr Growth
17K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$110K$107K$104K$101K$99K201920202021202220232024$99K$110K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

MonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesTime ManagementActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSystems Analysis
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-3051.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.