Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in Michigan
Chemical Plant and System Operators in Michigan earn a median of $72,430 a year ($34.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,190 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $78,120. Michigan ranks 16th of 35 states for chemical plant and system operators pay. There are 0.01 chemical plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.08). The average (mean) salary is $71,060, close to the median.
Pay range for chemical plant and system operators in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,890 | $15.33 |
| 25th percentile | $58,460 | $28.11 |
| Median | $72,430 | $34.82 |
| 75th percentile | $83,930 | $40.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,190 | $49.13 |
| Average (mean) | $71,060 | $34.17 |
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 | $6,035.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,017.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,785.77 |
| Weekly | $1,392.88 |
| Hourly | $34.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for chemical plant and system operators
Related jobs in Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $59,270 | $28.49 |
| Power Plant Operator | $105,820 | $50.88 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $100,500 | $48.32 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $82,800 | $39.81 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $116,780 | $56.15 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $64,690 | $31.10 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $84,030 | $40.40 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,490 | $21.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,170 | $34.70 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Machinist | $52,360 | $25.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,950 | $18.24 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,490 | $18.99 |
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 Michigan?
The median salary for chemical plant and system operators in Michigan is $72,430 a year, or $34.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical plant and system operators make in Michigan?
The top 10% of chemical plant and system operators in Michigan earn at least $102,190 a year. The top 25% earn $83,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical plant and system operators in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,890 a year, and a quarter of chemical plant and system operators earn $58,460 or less.
How many chemical plant and system operators work in Michigan?
About 40 chemical plant and system operators are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.