Is Natural Gas Distribution a Good Career Path?
A career in the natural gas distribution industry can be rewarding knowing that your job provides a critical service for millions of households in the U.S. Salaries in the natural gas industry are rewarding as well, with job titles such as GIS Analyst and Diesel and Natural Gas Engine Service Technicians offering salaries from anywhere between $60,000 to $120,000 depending on their location.
The pros:
- Relatively high salaries
- Large employment sector
The cons:
- Can be cyclical, meaning occasional mass layoffs
Best Paying Jobs in Natural Gas Distribution
The following are median salaries of some of the best paying jobs in natural gas distribution industry in the United States:
- Electrical Engineer
- GIS Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Engine Service Technician
How Many Jobs Are Available in Natural Gas Distribution
The BLS estimates that there are 109,600 jobs available in the natural gas distribution industry. The large majority of these roles include:
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- 27,500 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $86,610
- Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- 14,840 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $107,740
- Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- 14,340 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $70,400
- Control Valve Installers and Repairers
- 13,610 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $75,410
- Business Operations Specialists
- 12,940 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $108,230
- Construction and Extraction Occupations
- 12,920 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $83,740
- Production Occupations
- 12,490 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $93,540
- Construction Trades Workers
- 9,200 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $78,770
- Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- 8,120 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $109,760
- Management Occupations
- 7,720 jobs available
- Annual mean wage - $157,360
Natural Gas Distribution Companies
Some of the largest employers of natural gas distribution jobs in the United States are:
- BP - 70,000 employees
- Exxon Mobil - 62,300 employees
- Duke Energy Corporation - 27,535 employees
- Energy Transfer Partners - 11,421 employees
- Enterprise Products & Partners - 7,000 employees
Final Verdict: Is Natural Gas Distribution a Good Career Path?
Is natural gas distribution a good career path? Based on our grading criteria of the number of jobs available, the salaries, and the industry's exposure cyclical demand, we give this career path a rating of A-.