Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in Virginia
Chemical Plant and System Operators in Virginia earn a median of $63,000 a year ($30.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 760 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,800 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $78,120. Virginia ranks 24th of 35 states for chemical plant and system operators pay. There are 0.19 chemical plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $64,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical plant and system operators in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,330 | $17.47 |
| 25th percentile | $48,950 | $23.54 |
| Median | $63,000 | $30.29 |
| 75th percentile | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,800 | $40.77 |
| Average (mean) | $64,330 | $30.93 |
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 | $5,250 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,625 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,423.08 |
| Weekly | $1,211.54 |
| Hourly | $30.29 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $77,930 | 340 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,640 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for chemical plant and system operators
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $59,420 | $28.57 |
| Power Plant Operator | $73,640 | $35.41 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $64,150 | $30.84 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $81,080 | $38.98 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,150 | $35.65 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Baker | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Machinist | $61,290 | $29.47 |
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 Virginia?
The median salary for chemical plant and system operators in Virginia is $63,000 a year, or $30.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical plant and system operators make in Virginia?
The top 10% of chemical plant and system operators in Virginia earn at least $84,800 a year. The top 25% earn $77,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical plant and system operators in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,330 a year, and a quarter of chemical plant and system operators earn $48,950 or less.
How many chemical plant and system operators work in Virginia?
About 760 chemical plant and system operators are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.