Chemical equipment operators and tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Mean (average) | $60,710 | $29.19 |
| 90th percentile | $92,250 | $44.35 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Chemical equipment operators and tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $80,330 | $38,430 | $94,120 | 3,280 | 1.73 |
| Arizona | $45,790 | $34,840 | $75,300 | 1,330 | 0.46 |
| Arkansas | $64,440 | $41,800 | $87,560 | 1,160 | 0.99 |
| California | $58,300 | $42,160 | $80,620 | 5,670 | 0.35 |
| Colorado | $50,370 | $42,630 | $73,620 | 910 | 0.35 |
| Connecticut | $58,490 | $36,920 | $77,830 | 860 | 0.57 |
| Delaware | $63,200 | $50,460 | $82,100 | 1,160 | 2.66 |
| Florida | $44,360 | $30,250 | $69,720 | 4,270 | 0.48 |
| Georgia | $49,660 | $35,700 | $71,000 | 4,330 | 0.99 |
| Hawaii | $47,840 | $39,000 | $58,080 | 30 | 0.06 |
| Idaho | $77,100 | $46,100 | $84,930 | 550 | 0.72 |
| Illinois | $61,940 | $39,210 | $91,600 | 5,580 | 1.02 |
| Indiana | $56,800 | $37,680 | $75,550 | 6,240 | 2.17 |
| Iowa | $57,550 | $46,330 | $82,120 | 2,010 | 1.43 |
| Kansas | $54,890 | $35,800 | $76,260 | 1,920 | 1.49 |
| Kentucky | $57,530 | $39,470 | $91,430 | 3,590 | 2 |
| Louisiana | $78,580 | $47,480 | $111,210 | 6,430 | 3.7 |
| Maine | $57,240 | $41,450 | $67,780 | 250 | 0.44 |
| Maryland | $59,850 | $39,650 | $78,770 | 1,220 | 0.49 |
| Massachusetts | $56,920 | $41,560 | $77,700 | 2,860 | 0.88 |
| Michigan | $50,060 | $38,430 | $80,470 | 5,210 | 1.32 |
| Minnesota | $53,340 | $40,210 | $74,290 | 1,170 | 0.44 |
| Mississippi | $64,360 | $26,240 | $85,520 | 990 | 0.94 |
| Missouri | $50,640 | $36,370 | $76,120 | 2,790 | 1.06 |
| Montana | $79,570 | $48,820 | $107,540 | 40 | 0.08 |
| Nebraska | $59,750 | $41,630 | $76,650 | 1,020 | 1.11 |
| Nevada | $58,520 | $44,840 | $77,290 | 210 | 0.15 |
| New Hampshire | $49,440 | $49,440 | $58,880 | 350 | 0.57 |
| New Jersey | $56,500 | $35,980 | $79,780 | 8,560 | 2.23 |
| New Mexico | $60,910 | $35,360 | $105,800 | 170 | 0.22 |
| New York | $49,640 | $38,280 | $78,350 | 4,270 | 0.49 |
| North Carolina | $49,650 | $38,500 | $72,220 | 5,260 | 1.19 |
| Ohio | $60,550 | $45,450 | $81,840 | 7,830 | 1.57 |
| Oklahoma | $50,160 | $37,340 | $81,820 | 790 | 0.52 |
| Oregon | $56,510 | $43,460 | $81,190 | 950 | 0.54 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,630 | $38,710 | $81,840 | 6,230 | 1.14 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,450 | $25,650 | $54,450 | 2,420 | 2.87 |
| Rhode Island | $69,630 | $37,200 | $100,240 | 430 | 0.96 |
| South Carolina | $56,240 | $37,700 | $72,590 | 4,040 | 1.95 |
| South Dakota | $48,830 | $46,400 | $58,320 | 230 | 0.55 |
| Tennessee | $60,960 | $36,010 | $74,310 | 3,860 | 1.31 |
| Texas | $60,150 | $36,230 | $106,230 | 20,880 | 1.65 |
| Utah | $39,020 | $34,770 | $62,300 | 2,610 | 1.68 |
| Virginia | $59,970 | $41,990 | $76,910 | 2,040 | 0.55 |
| Washington | $67,300 | $46,420 | $97,130 | 1,720 | 0.54 |
| West Virginia | $66,060 | $44,000 | $93,130 | 1,190 | 1.89 |
| Wisconsin | $50,870 | $41,390 | $65,650 | 2,730 | 1.03 |
| Wyoming | $101,590 | $48,470 | $101,590 | 290 | 1.16 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 13,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Chemical Technology/Technician CIP 41.0301
- Chemical Process Technology CIP 41.0303
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
- Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
- Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
- Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
- Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
- Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
- Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
- Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- SAP software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- IBM Notes
- Operational databases
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Troubleshooting.
Common job titles: Chemical Operator (Chemical Tech), Chemical Process Operator, Chemical Reactor Operator, Chlorination Operator, Multiskill Operator, Outside Operator, Process Equipment Operator, Process Operator, Spray Dry Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical equipment operators and tenders make?
The national median annual wage for chemical equipment operators and tenders was $58,040 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,440 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $92,250. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do chemical equipment operators and tenders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is chemical equipment operators and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of chemical equipment operators and tenders to change +3.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 13,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay chemical equipment operators and tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Wyoming ($101,590), Alabama ($80,330), Montana ($79,570). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.