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Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salary in the U.S.

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in the U.S. earn a median of $58,040 a year ($27.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 139,630 workers.

Median salary
$58,040
Hourly
$27.90
Average
$60,710
Top 10% earn
$92,250
Workers
139,630

Pay ranges from $37,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,250 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $60,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.

Pay range for chemical equipment operators and tenders in the U.S.

$0$100,000
Pay levelYearlyHourly
10th percentile (entry level)$37,440$18.00
25th percentile$45,970$22.10
Median$58,040$27.90
75th percentile$74,080$35.62
90th percentile (top earners)$92,250$44.35
Average (mean)$60,710$29.19

Half of chemical equipment operators and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.

Median paycheck, before taxes

Pay periodAmount
Monthly$4,836.67
Semi-monthly (24 a year)$2,418.33
Biweekly (26 a year)$2,232.31
Weekly$1,116.15
Hourly$27.90

Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.

Buying a home? On a $58,040 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salary by state

StateMedian salaryWorkers
Wyoming$101,590290
Alabama$80,3303,280
Montana$79,57040
Louisiana$78,5806,430
Idaho$77,100550
Rhode Island$69,630430
Washington$67,3001,720
West Virginia$66,0601,190
Arkansas$64,4401,160
Mississippi$64,360990
Delaware$63,2001,160
Illinois$61,9405,580
Tennessee$60,9603,860
New Mexico$60,910170
Ohio$60,5507,830
Texas$60,15020,880
Virginia$59,9702,040
Maryland$59,8501,220
Nebraska$59,7501,020
Nevada$58,520210
Connecticut$58,490860
California$58,3005,670
Iowa$57,5502,010
Kentucky$57,5303,590
Maine$57,240250
Massachusetts$56,9202,860
Indiana$56,8006,240
Pennsylvania$56,6306,230
Oregon$56,510950
New Jersey$56,5008,560
South Carolina$56,2404,040
Kansas$54,8901,920
Minnesota$53,3401,170
Wisconsin$50,8702,730
Missouri$50,6402,790
Colorado$50,370910
Oklahoma$50,160790
Michigan$50,0605,210
Georgia$49,6604,330
North Carolina$49,6505,260
New York$49,6404,270
New Hampshire$49,440350
South Dakota$48,830230
Hawaii$47,84030
Arizona$45,7901,330
Florida$44,3604,270
Utah$39,0202,610
Puerto Rico$36,4502,420

Best-paying metro areas for chemical equipment operators and tenders

Metro areaMedian salaryWorkers
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$96,7901,540
New Orleans-Metairie, LA$94,4501,330
Baton Rouge, LA$93,9202,500
Corpus Christi, TX$91,560450
Mobile, AL$84,740700
Montgomery, AL$84,360160
Decatur, AL$82,170760
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS$82,050290
Albany, OR$81,190140
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$79,4309,390
Charleston, WV$77,670280
Longview-Kelso, WA$76,390110
Kennewick-Richland, WA$75,990120
Lake Charles, LA$74,2201,320
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$72,660590

Metro areas with the most chemical equipment operators and tenders

Metro areaWorkersMedian salary
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX9,390$79,430
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ8,060$54,790
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN4,510$61,250
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD4,110$60,410
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX3,640$47,230
Baton Rouge, LA2,500$93,920
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN2,330$61,020
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR2,300$36,450
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA2,030$49,240
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA2,030$55,750
Cleveland, OH2,010$62,200
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH1,820$57,370
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN1,770$60,820
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX1,540$96,790
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC1,520$57,110

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian salaryHourly
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570$23.35
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220$20.78
Production Workers, All Other$40,110$19.29
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690$24.37
Helpers--Production Workers$39,070$18.78
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,250$23.20
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,270$24.17
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,990$23.55
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,610$24.81
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,760$22.00
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,570$22.39
Dental Laboratory Technician$49,610$23.85
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$46,170$22.20
Semiconductor Processing Technician$51,430$24.73

More: Production Occupations

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a chemical equipment operators and tenders make in the U.S.?

The median salary for chemical equipment operators and tenders in the U.S. is $58,040 a year, or $27.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,250 for the top 10%.

How much do the highest-paid chemical equipment operators and tenders make in the U.S.?

The top 10% of chemical equipment operators and tenders in the U.S. earn at least $92,250 a year. The top 25% earn $74,080 or more.

What is the starting pay for chemical equipment operators and tenders in the U.S.?

Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,440 a year, and a quarter of chemical equipment operators and tenders earn $45,970 or less.

How many chemical equipment operators and tenders work in the U.S.?

About 139,630 chemical equipment operators and tenders are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.