- Energy
- Is Energy A Good Career Path
- Is Natural Gas Distribution A Good Career Path
- Is Electric Utilities Central A Good Career Path
- Is Oil & Gas Production A Good Career Path
- Is Power Generation A Good Career Path
- Is Integrated Oil Companies A Good Career Path
- Is Coal Mining A Good Career Path
- Jobs Available In Public Utilities
- Jobs Available In Natural Gas Distribution
- What Do Public Utilities Jobs Pay
Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, natural gas distribution is a good career path. Natural gas plays a prominent role in the American energy sector and is forecasted for steady growth. Many people rely on natural gas to power their homes and business, so a career in natural gas distribution is both a smart choice and a meaningful profession.
If you are interested in a career in natural gas distribution, you should consider the necessary steps to get involved. Pick an occupation that looks like the best fit based on your interests and skills. Don’t feel tied to one choice as well. There are many options, and you never know where you’ll end up.
The 7 Best Paying Jobs In Natural Gas Distribution
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Average Annual Salary: $92,000
A geoscientist is a scientist who specializes in earth studies and conducts research to gather data. From this data, geoscientists can analyze and draw conclusions, which can then be used by others, such as natural gas companies, to make informed decisions.
Geoscientists can be geologists, geochemists, hydrogeologists, or sedimentologists. They have skills in both their area of expertise as well as their ability to conduct and analyze data, either in the field or in a lab. Due to this, geoscientists are expected to be quite rigorous with their work.
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Average Annual Salary: $85,000
Chemical engineers design and develop material through chemical processes. Their job requires them to apply extensive knowledge of chemistry, biology, physics, and math, and chemical engineers must be skilled in a laboratory setting.
Natural gas distribution companies frequently need chemical engineers to help make sure their products flow properly from their source to the customers. In this, a chemical engineer may either analyze the natural gas or look for supplemental materials that can aid the process.
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Average Annual Salary: $142,000
Drilling superintendents oversee drilling projects. They are responsible for the drilling’s planning, implementation, and administration. A drilling superintendent is in charge of the project managers, supervisors, and drillers involved.
Drilling superintendents carry a lot of responsibility because they have the final say in everything that goes on. Therefore, a drilling superintendent has to have excellent management skills, be able to communicate and delegate roles and work alongside multiple stakeholders.
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Average Annual Salary: $87,000
A distribution manager leads the movement of a good or service across multiple locations. In the case of natural gas distribution, the distribution manager will be in charge of organizing the movement of the natural gas, either from pipelines or vehicle delivery.
Distribution managers must be skilled in logistics and analytics. A distribution manager will spend a lot of time monitoring daily activity, analyzing the data, and making improvements when needed. Through all this, a distribution manager must communicate with their team to keep everyone on the same page.
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Average Annual Salary: $87,000
There is a lot of construction in natural gas distribution. A construction supervisor manages the construction projects. They oversee the construction workers and keep everyone on task to make sure the construction gets done right.
Many construction managers involved in natural gas distribution work on building the infrastructure needed to move the gas from place to place. This includes building pipelines, wells, reservoirs, refineries, and storage facilities.
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Average Annual Salary: $123,000
Also known as pipeline engineers, reservoir engineers specialize in building distribution systems that safely extract gas and oils from the earth. Reservoir engineers identify the best locations for extraction by taking into account environmental and safety factors. This means that reservoir engineers must be well versed in appropriate regulations.
Reservoir engineers, like most engineers, must have excellent math and science skills. Reservoir engineers also must have knowledge about the geological and chemical factors involved in building their distribution systems.
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Average Annual Salary: $97,000
Health and safety managers oversee a worksite to make sure safety codes are followed for the protection of anyone in the work environment. This is an important job in natural gas distribution because there are many dangerous chemicals and machinery present during operations.
Health and safety managers are trained extensively in regulations and laws. A health and safety manager has to take into account the rights of the workers and customers, and they cannot be afraid to disagree with a company if codes are violated.
The 7 Best Entry Level Jobs In Natural Gas Distribution
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Average Annual Salary: $78,000
Natural gas engineers develop and maintain systems for handling natural gas. They are similar to reservoir engineers, except that they don’t generally deal with the identification and extraction process. Instead, natural gas engineers handle the gas once it is out of the ground.
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Average Annual Salary: $44,000
Gas technicians service natural gas machinery wherever it is found. This could be at a well, a pipeline, or a customer’s location. Gas technicians have to be familiar with the tools and equipment necessary to perform their tasks, whether it is installation, maintenance, or repair.
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Average Annual Salary: $52,000
Drillers work the drilling equipment at natural gas sites. They handle dangerous equipment, so a driller has to have both the appropriate physical strength and knowledge of safety procedures.
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Average Annual Salary: $50,000
Environmental inspectors make sure natural gas distribution companies follow government regulations. The inspectors also examine the processes of the natural gas distribution company to see if there is any threat to the surrounding environment.
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Average Annual Salary: $30,000
Customer service associates work with clients to make sure their needs are met. This means customer service associates have to be ready to present solutions to questions, concerns, and problems. In natural gas distribution, this requires knowledge of the industry and the company.
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Average Annual Salary: $42,000
Pipeline operators manage, maintain, and repair natural gas pipelines. This is a hands-on type of job that is great for anyone interested in working in the field. Pipeline operators spend most of their time monitoring pipe flow and performing routine inspections.
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Average Annual Salary: $52,000
Accountants play an important role in natural gas distribution as these companies typically service a multitude of clients. It is the responsibility of the accountant to manage these transactions alongside the payroll of the employees. Accountants also play a big role in organizing the tax documentation for the company.
Why Choose A Career In Natural Gas Distribution?
There are a lot of great reasons to choose a career in natural gas distribution. It is an industry that offers opportunities for a variety of interests and values. Whether you are a technical person who likes to work with their hands or a project manager who enjoys working with people, the natural gas distribution industry has something for you.
Natural gas distribution is great if you are:
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Interested in geology or the environment. Since natural gas distribution involves drilling, resource extraction, and environmental regulation, the industry provides positions for those with interests in geology and environmental science.
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Seek steady growth. Natural gas continues to be a much-needed resource in the energy sector. A career in natural gas distribution provides a steady profession as a result.
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Have a systems mindset. If you are the type of person who loves to look at the big picture on how things work, then natural gas distribution is a great choice. The industry revolves around complex interconnected systems.
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Want meaningful work. Natural gas distribution helps power our society, which makes it a great choice for those who want a career that gives back to the community.
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Want a job that can be found everywhere. There are many natural gas companies across the United States, so if you seek a job near you or wish to travel, this industry has you covered.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Natural Gas Distribution
Positions in natural gas distribution require a certain level of training and expertise. Most high-paying positions require a university degree, while entry-level opportunities only need a high school diploma or GED.
University degrees that are helpful to have in natural gas distribution include:
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Engineering Degree. Engineers play a big role in developing, building, maintaining, and improving natural gas distribution systems. A degree in chemical, mechanical, or environmental engineering is a great starting point for prospective candidates.
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Geology Degree. It helps to have a geology degree for those who want to be a geoscientist or involved on some other scientific level in natural gas distribution. This degree equips the scientific-minded employee with expertise related to the environment of the industry.
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Project Management Degree. Natural gas distribution always has a need for project managers, and this degree sets you up to take on such roles.
There are also several certifications that employees in the natural gas distribution can benefit from; these include.
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Certification from the American National Standards Institute. This is required by the National gas pipeline safety administration (NGPSA)
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Piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID). This is an engineering certification that shows a person understands the physical process flow of material.
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Risk Management. A risk management certification shows that an employee understands how to evaluate and make decisions about risks.
What Do People Working In Natural Gas Distribution Do?
Natural gas distribution is one of the fundamental pillars of the United States energy industry. With 2 million miles of natural gas pipeline in the country, there is no shortage of job opportunities. Natural gas distribution has positions for all types of people, from engineers to accountants.
There is a lot to like about natural gas distribution, and you should consider a career, especially if you enjoy working in earth sciences. People in natural gas distribution are hardworking, intelligent problem solvers who know their efforts make a big difference in their community. Take a look and see for yourself what natural gas distribution has to offer.
- Energy
- Is Energy A Good Career Path
- Is Natural Gas Distribution A Good Career Path
- Is Electric Utilities Central A Good Career Path
- Is Oil & Gas Production A Good Career Path
- Is Power Generation A Good Career Path
- Is Integrated Oil Companies A Good Career Path
- Is Coal Mining A Good Career Path
- Jobs Available In Public Utilities
- Jobs Available In Natural Gas Distribution
- What Do Public Utilities Jobs Pay
Author
Conor McMahon is a writer for Zippia, with previous experience in the nonprofit, customer service and technical support industries. He has a degree in Music Industry from Northeastern University and in his free time he plays guitar with his friends. Conor enjoys creative writing between his work doing professional content creation and technical documentation.
