Chemical plant and system operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $78,120 | $37.56 |
| Mean (average) | $79,970 | $38.45 |
| 90th percentile | $111,930 | $53.81 |
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 plant and system operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 35 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $91,610 | $56,500 | $101,800 | 230 | 1.02 |
| Arkansas | $91,610 | $74,420 | $97,280 | 240 | 1.72 |
| California | $87,550 | $73,900 | $111,930 | 780 | 0.4 |
| Colorado | $62,870 | $54,340 | $81,550 | 400 | 1.3 |
| Florida | $128,830 | $64,820 | $135,880 | 60 | 0.06 |
| Georgia | $49,230 | $40,710 | $71,020 | 220 | 0.43 |
| Idaho | $82,980 | $54,740 | $97,320 | 60 | 0.69 |
| Illinois | $65,710 | $60,580 | $83,690 | 160 | 0.24 |
| Indiana | $49,110 | $39,140 | $67,470 | 320 | 0.94 |
| Iowa | $60,440 | $46,220 | $65,850 | 490 | 2.93 |
| Kentucky | $97,550 | $72,820 | $135,500 | 40 | 0.19 |
| Louisiana | $100,060 | $62,890 | $122,560 | 3,400 | 16.43 |
| Maryland | $95,150 | $62,390 | $99,760 | 290 | 0.98 |
| Massachusetts | $83,710 | $64,870 | $98,630 | 570 | 1.47 |
| Michigan | $72,430 | $31,890 | $102,190 | 40 | 0.08 |
| Minnesota | $66,500 | $50,010 | $81,680 | 150 | 0.47 |
| Mississippi | $71,080 | $46,920 | $103,400 | 320 | 2.56 |
| Missouri | $55,470 | $46,590 | $78,040 | 450 | 1.45 |
| New Jersey | $86,820 | $62,760 | $115,500 | 330 | 0.73 |
| New Mexico | $72,610 | $70,190 | $75,350 | ||
| New York | $62,980 | $55,070 | $90,690 | 120 | 0.11 |
| North Carolina | $62,920 | $50,790 | $78,580 | 660 | 1.26 |
| Ohio | $67,580 | $51,170 | $75,890 | 240 | 0.4 |
| Oregon | $87,110 | $68,550 | $102,330 | 120 | 0.56 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,110 | $54,770 | $90,420 | 770 | 1.19 |
| South Carolina | $68,510 | $49,080 | $75,120 | 610 | 2.49 |
| South Dakota | $59,970 | $49,790 | $65,640 | 180 | 3.6 |
| Tennessee | $45,830 | $41,620 | $74,850 | 350 | 1 |
| Texas | $102,750 | $52,460 | $124,220 | 2,360 | 1.57 |
| Utah | $63,460 | $52,970 | $65,640 | 320 | 1.73 |
| Virginia | $63,000 | $36,330 | $84,800 | 760 | 1.74 |
| Washington | $60,120 | $45,760 | $114,010 | 350 | 0.92 |
| West Virginia | $81,710 | $44,210 | $90,250 | 380 | 5.02 |
| Wisconsin | $62,720 | $49,180 | $80,060 | 90 | 0.29 |
| Wyoming | $107,810 | $88,360 | $114,380 | 300 | 10.12 |
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 plant and system operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,300. 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 plant and system operators
- 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
- Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
- Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
- Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
- Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
- Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
- Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
- Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
- Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases or vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, or perfume to towers, or to add products to converter or blending vessels.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Alarm management system software
- Coordinated incident management system CIMS software
- Distributed control system DCS
- Interlock shutdown systems
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Chemical Operator, Chemical Plant Operations Technician (Chemical Plan Operations Tech), Chemical Plant Production Operator, Chemical Process Control Operator, Plant Technician (Plant Tech), Process Control Operator, Process Development Associate, Process Operator, Process Technician (Process Tech), Production Technician (Production Tech).
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 plant and system operators make?
The national median annual wage for chemical plant and system operators was $78,120 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $48,400 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $111,930. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do chemical plant and system operators 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 plant and system operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of chemical plant and system operators to change -5.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay chemical plant and system operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Florida ($128,830), Wyoming ($107,810), Texas ($102,750). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.