Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in New Jersey
Chemical Plant and System Operators in New Jersey earn a median of $86,820 a year ($41.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,500 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $78,120. New Jersey ranks 11th of 35 states for chemical plant and system operators pay. There are 0.08 chemical plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $86,380, close to the median.
Pay range for chemical plant and system operators in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,760 | $30.17 |
| 25th percentile | $72,570 | $34.89 |
| Median | $86,820 | $41.74 |
| 75th percentile | $94,920 | $45.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,500 | $55.53 |
| Average (mean) | $86,380 | $41.53 |
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 | $7,235 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,617.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,339.23 |
| Weekly | $1,669.62 |
| Hourly | $41.74 |
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 in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,470 | 200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $77,260 | 310 |
Highest-paying states for chemical plant and system operators
Related jobs in New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $76,560 | $36.81 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $104,540 | $50.26 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $128,220 | $61.65 |
| Power Plant Operator | $131,370 | $63.16 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $69,970 | $33.64 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $110,900 | $53.32 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $81,110 | $38.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $56,500 | $27.17 |
| Baker | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,800 | $22.02 |
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for chemical plant and system operators in New Jersey is $86,820 a year, or $41.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical plant and system operators make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of chemical plant and system operators in New Jersey earn at least $115,500 a year. The top 25% earn $94,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical plant and system operators in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,760 a year, and a quarter of chemical plant and system operators earn $72,570 or less.
How many chemical plant and system operators work in New Jersey?
About 330 chemical plant and system operators are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.