Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Chemical Plant and System Operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $52,330 a year ($25.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,570 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $78,120. Pay here is 6% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $55,470. There are 0.14 chemical plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $56,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical plant and system operators in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,390 | $23.27 |
| 25th percentile | $52,290 | $25.14 |
| Median | $52,330 | $25.16 |
| 75th percentile | $58,430 | $28.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,570 | $31.04 |
| Average (mean) | $56,420 | $27.12 |
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 | $4,360.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,180.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,012.69 |
| Weekly | $1,006.35 |
| Hourly | $25.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $52,330 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,750 | 110 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $75,610 | $36.35 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $85,470 | $41.09 |
| Power Plant Operator | $101,820 | $48.95 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,210 | $36.16 |
| Machinist | $62,210 | $29.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $62,090 | $29.85 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,640 | $24.83 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,190 | $19.32 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for chemical plant and system operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $52,330 a year, or $25.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical plant and system operators make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of chemical plant and system operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $64,570 a year. The top 25% earn $58,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical plant and system operators in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,390 a year, and a quarter of chemical plant and system operators earn $52,290 or less.
How many chemical plant and system operators work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 190 chemical plant and system operators are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.