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Average Gas Compressor Operator Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A gas compressor operator in United Kingdom earns about 30,100 GBP a year. That's 57% below the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 14,200 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 45,600 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does a gas compressor operator make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
30,100 GBP
2,508 GBP per month
Lowest reported
14,200 GBP
1,183 GBP per month
Highest reported
45,600 GBP
3,800 GBP per month

A typical gas compressor operator working in United Kingdom brings home around 2,508 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 14,200 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 45,600 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior gas compressor operator working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the gas compressor operator salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How gas compressor operator pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all gas compressor operators in United Kingdom earn less than 30,800 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 18,200 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 38,000 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of gas compressor operators sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 14,200 GBP. The highest stretch to 45,600 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

14,200
Low
30,800
Median
45,600
High
18,200
25th
38,000
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Gas compressor operator pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a gas compressor operator in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical gas compressor operator salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    15,700 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +32% from previous
    20,700 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +40% from previous
    28,900 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +34% from previous
    38,700 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +6% from previous
    41,100 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +6% from previous
    43,500 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 40%. That is the point at which a gas compressor operator typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Gas compressor operator pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving gas compressor operator pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average gas compressor operator salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • High School
    22,400 GBP
  • Certificate or Diploma
    +75% from previous
    39,300 GBP

Gas compressor operator gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male gas compressor operators in United Kingdom earn an average of 30,700 GBP a year, while female gas compressor operators earn around 29,300 GBP. That works out to a 5% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Gas Compressor Operator gender pay gap

5%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 30,700 GBP
Women 29,300 GBP

Pay raises for a gas compressor operator in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 12% every 13 months, which works out to roughly 11% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Gas compressor operator bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

32%

32% of gas compressor operators in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a gas compressor operator a low-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary. The remaining 68% of gas compressor operators reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Gas compressor operator: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Gas compressor operator salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Gas compressor operator pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Bristol
  • Birmingham
  • London
  • Somerset
  • Leeds
  • Edinburgh
  • Aberdeen
  • Coventry
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion55,700 GBP54,900 GBP27,000-85,400 GBP
ScotlandRegion38,000 GBP41,000 GBP17,100-61,700 GBP
BristolCity34,000 GBP34,400 GBP15,300-53,600 GBP
BirminghamCity34,000 GBP35,000 GBP17,100-53,500 GBP
LondonCity34,000 GBP35,000 GBP15,400-53,300 GBP
SomersetCity34,000 GBP33,000 GBP16,800-50,600 GBP
LeedsCity33,600 GBP28,900 GBP19,400-49,800 GBP
EdinburghCity33,200 GBP33,000 GBP13,100-51,300 GBP
AberdeenCity32,900 GBP30,100 GBP16,300-47,100 GBP
CoventryCity32,600 GBP32,600 GBP18,300-51,400 GBP
SheffieldCity32,600 GBP33,000 GBP16,800-51,300 GBP
NewcastleCity32,300 GBP31,700 GBP18,300-49,200 GBP
BelfastCity32,200 GBP33,200 GBP13,500-48,500 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity32,200 GBP33,500 GBP13,100-49,100 GBP
CardiffCity32,200 GBP32,900 GBP17,100-49,700 GBP
NottinghamCity31,800 GBP31,700 GBP12,900-49,700 GBP
LiverpoolCity31,700 GBP33,800 GBP15,500-51,300 GBP
GlasgowCity31,700 GBP29,300 GBP16,000-50,000 GBP
BrightonCity31,200 GBP30,800 GBP17,100-45,600 GBP
ArmaghCity30,800 GBP29,200 GBP13,500-45,900 GBP
PooleCity30,800 GBP29,600 GBP14,500-45,600 GBP
WolverhamptonCity30,700 GBP30,700 GBP12,000-49,400 GBP
LeicesterCity30,300 GBP29,200 GBP15,500-45,800 GBP
ManchesterCity30,200 GBP31,200 GBP15,300-49,400 GBP
PlymouthCity30,200 GBP30,200 GBP15,100-47,400 GBP
BradfordCity30,200 GBP29,300 GBP15,700-49,000 GBP
DerbyCity30,200 GBP32,900 GBP17,100-50,300 GBP
NorwichCity30,100 GBP30,800 GBP14,200-45,400 GBP
HartlepoolCity29,900 GBP30,800 GBP14,500-44,500 GBP
PeterboroughCity29,600 GBP28,800 GBP12,900-44,300 GBP
YorkCity29,600 GBP27,100 GBP14,500-45,100 GBP
WalesRegion29,600 GBP28,800 GBP15,300-42,300 GBP
SwanseaCity29,400 GBP30,800 GBP15,100-46,700 GBP
DundeeCity29,300 GBP29,100 GBP15,500-44,500 GBP
PortsmouthCity29,200 GBP33,200 GBP14,900-45,300 GBP
LincolnCity29,100 GBP29,100 GBP13,100-45,900 GBP
CambridgeCity28,900 GBP30,100 GBP15,100-45,200 GBP
SouthamptonCity28,900 GBP33,200 GBP15,300-46,700 GBP
OxfordCity27,700 GBP27,300 GBP17,100-44,300 GBP
InvernessCity27,400 GBP27,300 GBP14,200-41,500 GBP
NewryCity27,400 GBP26,500 GBP14,500-45,600 GBP
CanterburyCity27,300 GBP26,200 GBP15,300-39,300 GBP
WinchesterCity27,300 GBP26,300 GBP11,400-41,500 GBP
WellsCity27,300 GBP27,300 GBP13,900-41,900 GBP
ChesterCity27,300 GBP27,400 GBP12,000-38,900 GBP
LisburnCity26,600 GBP23,300 GBP14,500-40,900 GBP
WakefieldCity26,600 GBP23,600 GBP15,100-39,300 GBP
GloucesterCity26,500 GBP25,800 GBP12,000-40,300 GBP
NewportCity26,400 GBP30,100 GBP13,400-44,700 GBP
SalisburyCity26,300 GBP25,500 GBP15,200-43,400 GBP
ExeterCity26,300 GBP25,800 GBP12,900-42,800 GBP
DurhamCity26,200 GBP30,100 GBP11,800-44,800 GBP
StirlingCity26,100 GBP29,300 GBP13,500-44,500 GBP
BangorCity25,800 GBP25,800 GBP13,600-38,900 GBP
DerryCity25,800 GBP27,300 GBP11,400-44,500 GBP
St DavidsCity25,800 GBP23,600 GBP14,500-39,000 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion25,800 GBP26,500 GBP13,300-40,300 GBP
StrontianCity25,300 GBP22,100 GBP13,700-36,400 GBP
KirkwallCity24,800 GBP24,800 GBP13,600-42,000 GBP
TruroCity24,400 GBP23,400 GBP12,000-38,000 GBP
RiponCity23,600 GBP23,400 GBP13,500-39,400 GBP
AbingdonCity23,600 GBP23,600 GBP11,800-39,100 GBP
StromnessCity22,800 GBP27,000 GBP10,000-40,900 GBP

Gas Compressor Operator in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does a gas compressor operator make per month in United Kingdom?

    A gas compressor operator in United Kingdom earns about 2,508 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 30,100 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for a gas compressor operator in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level gas compressor operators in United Kingdom start near 14,200 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 45,600 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 18,200 and 38,000 GBP.

  • Is the median gas compressor operator salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 30,800 GBP, higher than the average of 30,100 GBP. Half of gas compressor operators in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for gas compressor operators in United Kingdom?

    Men working as a gas compressor operator in United Kingdom earn around 5% more than women on average (30,700 vs 29,300 GBP a year).

  • Do gas compressor operators in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 32% of gas compressor operators in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary.

  • Do gas compressor operators earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays a gas compressor operator about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do gas compressor operators in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    A gas compressor operator in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 12% every 13 months, equivalent to roughly 11% a year.