Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in the U.S.
Chemical Plant and System Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $78,120 a year ($37.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,930 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $79,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical plant and system operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| 25th percentile | $60,330 | $29.01 |
| Median | $78,120 | $37.56 |
| 75th percentile | $98,660 | $47.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,930 | $53.81 |
| Average (mean) | $79,970 | $38.45 |
Half of chemical plant and system operators 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 period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,510 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,255 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,004.62 |
| Weekly | $1,502.31 |
| Hourly | $37.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $128,830 | 60 |
| Wyoming | $107,810 | 300 |
| Texas | $102,750 | 2,360 |
| Louisiana | $100,060 | 3,400 |
| Kentucky | $97,550 | 40 |
| Maryland | $95,150 | 290 |
| Alabama | $91,610 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $91,610 | 240 |
| California | $87,550 | 780 |
| Oregon | $87,110 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $86,820 | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $83,710 | 570 |
| Idaho | $82,980 | 60 |
| West Virginia | $81,710 | 380 |
| New Mexico | $72,610 | n/a |
| Michigan | $72,430 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $71,080 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,110 | 770 |
| South Carolina | $68,510 | 610 |
| Ohio | $67,580 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $66,500 | 150 |
| Illinois | $65,710 | 160 |
| Utah | $63,460 | 320 |
| Virginia | $63,000 | 760 |
| New York | $62,980 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $62,920 | 660 |
| Colorado | $62,870 | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $62,720 | 90 |
| Iowa | $60,440 | 490 |
| Washington | $60,120 | 350 |
| South Dakota | $59,970 | 180 |
| Missouri | $55,470 | 450 |
| Georgia | $49,230 | 220 |
| Indiana | $49,110 | 320 |
| Tennessee | $45,830 | 350 |
Best-paying metro areas for chemical plant and system operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $117,430 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $111,900 | 300 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $106,020 | 1,420 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $104,410 | 1,720 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $102,310 | 740 |
| Mobile, AL | $96,210 | 110 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $92,260 | 460 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,470 | 200 |
| Worcester, MA | $88,510 | 90 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,210 | 100 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $84,390 | 30 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $82,170 | 410 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,930 | 340 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $77,260 | 310 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,710 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most chemical plant and system operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,720 | $104,410 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,420 | $106,020 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 740 | $102,310 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 460 | $92,260 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 410 | $82,170 |
| Richmond, VA | 340 | $77,930 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 310 | $77,260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 300 | $111,900 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 280 | $64,360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 200 | $90,470 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 190 | $52,330 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 130 | $68,590 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 130 | $66,640 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 110 | $65,750 |
| Mobile, AL | 110 | $96,210 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | $37.80 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $106,730 | $51.31 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | $59.08 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Machinist | $58,750 | $28.24 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8091. 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 plant and system operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for chemical plant and system operators in the U.S. is $78,120 a year, or $37.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical plant and system operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of chemical plant and system operators in the U.S. earn at least $111,930 a year. The top 25% earn $98,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical plant and system operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,400 a year, and a quarter of chemical plant and system operators earn $60,330 or less.
How many chemical plant and system operators work in the U.S.?
About 16,610 chemical plant and system operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.