Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Chemical Plant and System Operators in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $57,370 a year ($27.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,970 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $78,120. Pay here is 25% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $45,830. There are 0.16 chemical plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical plant and system operators in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| 25th percentile | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Median | $57,370 | $27.58 |
| 75th percentile | $70,140 | $33.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,970 | $37.00 |
| Average (mean) | $60,070 | $28.88 |
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 | $4,780.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,390.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,206.54 |
| Weekly | $1,103.27 |
| Hourly | $27.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,370 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for chemical plant and system operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $128,830 |
| Wyoming | $107,810 |
| Texas | $102,750 |
| Louisiana | $100,060 |
| Kentucky | $97,550 |
| Maryland | $95,150 |
| Alabama | $91,610 |
| Arkansas | $91,610 |
| California | $87,550 |
| Oregon | $87,110 |
See Chemical Plant and System Operators pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $54,460 | $26.18 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,730 | $46.50 |
| Power Plant Operator | $119,080 | $57.25 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $66,560 | $32.00 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $74,300 | $35.72 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,530 | $18.52 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,990 | $31.73 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,600 | $23.37 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,570 | $20.47 |
| Machinist | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,560 | $15.17 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,470 | $24.26 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for chemical plant and system operators in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $57,370 a year, or $27.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical plant and system operators make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of chemical plant and system operators in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $76,970 a year. The top 25% earn $70,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical plant and system operators in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,440 a year, and a quarter of chemical plant and system operators earn $45,750 or less.
How many chemical plant and system operators work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 100 chemical plant and system operators are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.