Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in U.S.
SOC 51-8091 · National · 2024 BLS OEWS
The median salary for a Chemical Plant and System Operators in U.S. is $73,540 per year as of 2024. That works out to roughly $35.35 per hour. 17,840 people work as Chemical Plant and System Operators in U.S.. Wages have grown 18% since 2019, when the median was $62,550.
Median Annual Salary
$73,540
Mean Annual
$76,290
Median Hourly
$35.35
Total Employed
17,840
Salary Distribution
$48k
10th
$57k
25th
$74k
Median
$98k
75th
$108k
90th
Salary by Industry
| 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 |
Salary 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 |
Related Production Occupations Jobs in U.S.
Other occupations in the same group, sorted by salary.
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | $122,610 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $107,240 |
| Power Plant Operators | $99,670 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $97,540 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $83,400 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $75,190 |