Average Salary for Chemical Plant and System Operators
SOC 51-8091 · Production Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in the United States is $73,540 ($35.35/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $48,000 at the 10th percentile to $107,790 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 17,840 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 31.6% since 2014.
Median Annual
$73,540
Mean Annual
$76,290
10th Pct
$48,000
75th Pct
$98,050
Employment
17,840
Salary Distribution
$48k
10th
$57k
25th
$74k
Median
$98k
75th
$108k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,370 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $101,150 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $101,130 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $99,810 |
| Mobile, AL | $88,730 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,820 |
| Worcester, MA | $85,730 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $81,730 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $79,400 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $78,310 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $77,030 |
| Richmond, VA | $76,550 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $67,500 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $66,640 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $66,140 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $112,970 |
| Wyoming | $104,420 |
| Texas | $99,250 |
| Kentucky | $98,890 |
| Louisiana | $96,500 |
| Maryland | $92,930 |
| New Jersey | $88,550 |
| California | $88,280 |
| Alabama | $84,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,660 |
| Florida | $68,640 |
| West Virginia | $67,600 |
| Michigan | $67,230 |
| Illinois | $66,580 |
| Tennessee | $66,140 |
| Ohio | $65,510 |
| Massachusetts | $65,500 |
| Montana | $65,190 |
| Minnesota | $64,420 |
| Georgia | $62,600 |
| Connecticut | $62,590 |
| Virginia | $61,950 |
| South Carolina | $61,100 |
| New York | $61,050 |
| Colorado | $60,300 |
| Iowa | $60,100 |
| Washington | $58,280 |
| Idaho | $57,300 |
| South Dakota | $56,690 |
| North Carolina | $56,630 |
| Mississippi | $55,750 |
| Utah | $53,420 |
| Indiana | $51,170 |
| Wisconsin | $51,000 |
| Missouri | $50,700 |
| Arkansas | $46,130 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $108,890 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $108,400 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $108,400 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $103,530 |
| Utilities | $101,880 |
| Utilities | $101,880 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $98,060 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $98,060 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $98,060 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $79,990 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $77,030 |
| Manufacturing | $74,530 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $73,560 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $73,520 |
| Food Manufacturing | $70,560 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $62,250 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $62,250 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $62,210 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $61,660 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $61,660 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $60,920 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | $58,340 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $58,340 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $57,580 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $56,420 |
| Wholesale Trade | $55,940 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $55,930 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $55,930 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $55,730 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $55,730 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $73,540 |
| 2023 | $80,030 |
| 2022 | $82,670 |
| 2021 | $70,200 |
| 2020 | $65,960 |
| 2019 | $62,550 |
| 2018 | $62,060 |
| 2017 | $62,170 |
| 2016 | $59,920 |
| 2015 | $59,320 |
| 2014 | $55,900 |