Plant and system operators, all other salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,700 | $19.57 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Mean (average) | $65,700 | $31.59 |
| 90th percentile | $94,560 | $45.46 |
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
Plant and system operators, all other pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $51,690 | $32,910 | $97,070 | 30 | 0.18 |
| Arizona | $69,260 | $49,160 | $88,400 | 150 | 0.5 |
| Arkansas | $46,020 | $38,910 | $70,640 | 120 | 1.04 |
| California | $78,020 | $49,200 | $112,860 | 1,560 | 0.94 |
| Colorado | $51,600 | $40,930 | $81,040 | 1,050 | 4.02 |
| Connecticut | $68,950 | $51,500 | $86,810 | 100 | 0.65 |
| Florida | $50,910 | $38,880 | $78,830 | 590 | 0.66 |
| Georgia | $44,670 | $37,670 | $67,680 | 240 | 0.54 |
| Idaho | $61,690 | $60,000 | $83,250 | 40 | 0.54 |
| Illinois | $77,780 | $55,080 | $84,320 | 230 | 0.41 |
| Indiana | $70,490 | $51,000 | $79,540 | 280 | 0.96 |
| Iowa | $75,800 | $59,510 | $104,880 | 50 | 0.34 |
| Kansas | $74,190 | $62,330 | $81,660 | 60 | 0.46 |
| Kentucky | $69,430 | $58,450 | $96,930 | 30 | 0.18 |
| Louisiana | $62,630 | $39,860 | $110,590 | 350 | 2.02 |
| Maine | $62,270 | $40,560 | $75,520 | 110 | 1.81 |
| Maryland | $81,890 | $54,100 | $93,620 | 270 | 1.08 |
| Massachusetts | $120,660 | $88,940 | $129,990 | 40 | 0.13 |
| Michigan | $64,690 | $55,330 | $108,760 | 250 | 0.62 |
| Minnesota | $88,290 | $76,500 | $107,310 | 200 | 0.74 |
| Mississippi | $65,080 | $51,440 | $93,840 | 140 | 1.35 |
| Missouri | $51,560 | $37,750 | $70,630 | 380 | 1.44 |
| Montana | $81,340 | $60,670 | $89,840 | 170 | 3.7 |
| Nebraska | $48,220 | $47,820 | $69,780 | 70 | 0.7 |
| Nevada | $80,000 | $51,720 | $137,130 | 150 | 1.09 |
| New Hampshire | $64,030 | $63,160 | $78,580 | 120 | 1.97 |
| New Jersey | $69,970 | $45,860 | $95,750 | 290 | 0.74 |
| New Mexico | $55,710 | $39,580 | $100,610 | 120 | 1.5 |
| New York | $74,700 | $51,500 | $90,770 | 310 | 0.35 |
| North Carolina | $61,190 | $47,840 | $79,930 | 220 | 0.48 |
| Ohio | $64,140 | $46,470 | $79,200 | 340 | 0.68 |
| Oklahoma | $74,240 | $47,950 | $101,530 | 80 | 0.55 |
| Oregon | $71,900 | $46,910 | $96,140 | 140 | 0.77 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,840 | $42,350 | $79,350 | 620 | 1.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,850 | $31,200 | $58,760 | 70 | 0.86 |
| South Carolina | $56,060 | $44,350 | $76,420 | 150 | 0.71 |
| South Dakota | $57,430 | $43,700 | $73,720 | 190 | 4.48 |
| Tennessee | $60,240 | $48,050 | $96,300 | 150 | 0.51 |
| Texas | $50,820 | $36,380 | $84,500 | 3,570 | 2.8 |
| Utah | $67,910 | $54,430 | $91,030 | 180 | 1.12 |
| Virginia | $61,940 | $50,990 | $92,410 | 180 | 0.48 |
| Washington | $88,730 | $71,720 | $105,680 | 190 | 0.6 |
| West Virginia | $70,660 | $50,950 | $76,940 | 120 | 1.95 |
| Wisconsin | $62,800 | $49,750 | $78,210 | 160 | 0.6 |
| Wyoming | $66,770 | $41,370 | $118,160 | 90 | 3.4 |
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 plant and system operators, all other
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,200. 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 plant and system operators, all other
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Highest education of people working in this occupation
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
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
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 plant and system operators, all other make?
The national median annual wage for plant and system operators, all other was $62,470 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,700 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $94,560. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do plant and system operators, all other 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 plant and system operators, all other a growing career?
BLS projects employment of plant and system operators, all other to change +2.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay plant and system operators, all other the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($120,660), Washington ($88,730), Minnesota ($88,290). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.