The Average Annual Income of Gas Station Owners

Income and Qualifications

Gas station owners pay their own salaries from the profits they earn. Their average annual incomes were $67,000 in 2013, according to Indeed. If you want to own a gas station, consider working at one for six months or a year as an assistant manager. That way, you can learn the operations of the business before investing any money in your own gas station. You want to make sure you like the business before making an investment. Typical qualifications for a gas station owner or manager are a high school diploma, physical stamina and math, customer service, interpersonal, supervisory and computer skills.

Income by Region

Average incomes for gas station owners varied considerably within the four U.S. regions in 2013. In the Northeast region, they earned the lowest incomes of $59,000 in Pennsylvania and the highest of $79,000 in New York, according to Indeed. If you worked in the West as an owner, you'd earn the least in Hawaii and the most in California -- $47,000 or $73,000 per year, respectively. Expect to earn $52,000 or $70,000, respectively, in South Dakota or Illinois, which represented the lowest and highest incomes in the Midwest. In the South, you'd earn the lowest salary of $56,000 in Louisiana or the highest, $76,000, in Mississippi.

Contributing Factors

Most gas station owners earn more after gaining years of experience in the industry. With experience, you'll know how to better attract customers through advertising, in-store promotions and exceptional customer service. You'll likely have more repeat customers once your gas station has been running for several years, which can positively impact your income. The location of your gas station also will impact your earnings. Locate your gas station in a busy section, particularly near a highway. That way, you also generate business from travelers. Franchise companies usually help owners locate their stores or gas stations.

Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't predict job trends for gas station owners. It does, however, report job opportunities for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers, which it expects to increase 8 percent in the next decade. This job-growth rate is slower than the 14 percent average for all occupations. But employment for all employees in gas stations increased 0.6 percent from January to April 2013, which indicates the industry is growing. If you do decide to own a gas station, open one in areas experiencing higher population growth. These places will offer more potential customers and a higher income.