SOC 518091

Chemical Plant and System Operators

Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.

National Median

$73,540

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$73,540

Entry Level (10th pct)

$48,000

Experienced (90th pct)

$107,790

Total Employed

17,840

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$48,000 - $57,080
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$57,080 - $98,050
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$98,050 - $107,790

Highest Paying Locations for Chemical Plant and System Operators

North Dakota

$112,970

+53.6% vs national

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$108,370

+47.4% vs national

Wyoming

$104,420

+42.0% vs national

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

$101,150

+37.5% vs national

Baton Rouge, LA

$101,130

+37.5% vs national

Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
North Dakota	$112,970	410
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$108,370	250
Wyoming	$104,420	320
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$101,150	1,820
Baton Rouge, LA	$101,130	1,640
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$99,810	770
Texas	$99,250	2,980
Kentucky	$98,890	70
Louisiana	$96,500	3,360
Maryland	$92,930	320
Mobile, AL	$88,730	100
New Jersey	$88,550	320
California	$88,280	590
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$87,820	N/A
Worcester, MA	$85,730	70
Alabama	$84,490	N/A
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$81,730	30
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$79,400	290
Pittsburgh, PA	$78,310	150
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$77,030	130
Richmond, VA	$76,550	N/A
Pennsylvania	$75,660	750
Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	$71,820	70
Florida	$68,640	230
West Virginia	$67,600	230
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$67,500	210
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area	$67,450	40
Michigan	$67,230	90
Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area	$66,710	70
Spartanburg, SC	$66,640	130
Illinois	$66,580	290
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$66,140	50
Tennessee	$66,140	260
Ohio	$65,510	460
Massachusetts	$65,500	250
Montana	$65,190	120
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$64,560	60
Minnesota	$64,420	110
Columbia, SC	$63,690	30
Toledo, OH	$63,660	N/A
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$62,880	160
Georgia	$62,600	200
Connecticut	$62,590	30
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	$62,430	40
Virginia	$61,950	N/A
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$61,520	110
South Carolina	$61,100	480
New York	$61,050	120
Colorado	$60,300	N/A
Iowa	$60,100	N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Chemical Plant and System Operators?

The national median annual salary for Chemical Plant and System Operators is $73,540, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Chemical Plant and System Operatorss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Chemical Plant and System Operatorss is North Dakota, with a median salary of $112,970.

How much can an experienced Chemical Plant and System Operators make?

Top-earning Chemical Plant and System Operatorss (90th percentile) make $107,790 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.