51 Series · SOC 51-8091
Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $78,120
- Median / year
- +6.2%
- 2024→2025
- $111,930
- Top 10% earn
- -6.1%
- Growth '24–'34
- 16,610
- Estimated US jobs
Chemical Plant and System Operators earn a median of $78,120 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $78,120, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $48,400 (10th percentile) to $111,930 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 16,610 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Florida ($128,830).
The pay verdict
Chemical Plant and System Operators earn a median of $78,120, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 71% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #7 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 6.1% by 2034.
- $78,120
- Median annual wage
- Top 29%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #7 of 105
- in Production
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Florida at $128,830. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Chemical Plant and System Operators moved from $62,550 in May 2019 to $78,120 in May 2025 (+24.9%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Chemical Plant and System Operators sits +0.4 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Chemical Plant and System Operators (SOC 51-8091) has a national median of $78,120 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $48,400 to $111,930, and the published mean is $79,970. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 16,610 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 35 state or territory areas and 38 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $73,540 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $78,120 in May 2025, a rise of $4,580 (+6.2%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -6.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 1,600 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Florida pays the highest state median at $128,830, which is +65% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX at $117,430. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$78,120
per year
Median Hourly
$37.56/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$79,970
average
Employment
16,610
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Chemical Plant and System Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$78,120 Top 29% higher than 71% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 (this entry) | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$78,120 · 71st percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Chemical Plant and System Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
- Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
- Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
- Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
- Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
- Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
- Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
- Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
- Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
- Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
- Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
- Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
- Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
- Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
- Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
- Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
- Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
- Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
- Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
- Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
- Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270
- Chemical Plant and System Operators: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.1%, Median annual wage $78120
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-6.1%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,600
per year (projected)
Employment Change
-1,100
18,100 (2024) → 17,000 (2034)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Production Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Chemical Plant and System Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
- ▸ Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
- ▸ Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
- ▸ Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
- ▸ Inspect operating units, such as towers, soap-spray storage tanks, scrubbers, collectors, or driers to ensure that all are functioning and to maintain maximum efficiency.
- ▸ Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
- ▸ Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
- ▸ Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
- ▸ Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.
- ▸ Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitors and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $59,320 |
| 2016 | $59,920 |
| 2017 | $62,170 |
| 2018 | $62,060 |
| 2019 | $62,550 |
| 2020 | $65,960 |
| 2021 | $70,200 |
| 2022 | $82,670 |
| 2023 | $80,030 |
| 2024 | $73,540 |
| 2025 | $78,120 |
2015 median
$59,320
2025 median
$78,120
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$15,570 (+24.9%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+3.8%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $59,320 | First banked release | 35,020 |
| May 2016 | $59,920 | +1.0% | 33,300 |
| May 2017 | $62,170 | +3.8% | 30,290 |
| May 2018 | $62,060 | -0.2% | 28,190 |
| May 2019 | $62,550 | Classification break | 28,840 |
| May 2020 | $65,960 | +5.5% | 29,710 |
| May 2021 | $70,200 | +6.4% | 21,740 |
| May 2022 | $82,670 | +17.8% | 18,710 |
| May 2023 | $80,030 | -3.2% | 17,980 |
| May 2024 | $73,540 | -8.1% | 17,840 |
| May 2025 | $78,120 | +6.2% | 16,610 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $59,320 in May 2015 to $78,120 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.8% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 28,840 in May 2019 to 16,610 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 35 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $128,830 | +65% above national |
| 2 | Wyoming | $107,810 | +38% above national |
| 3 | Texas | $102,750 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Louisiana | $100,060 | +28% above national |
| 5 | Kentucky | $97,550 | +25% above national |
| 6 | Maryland | $95,150 | +22% above national |
| 7 | Alabama | $91,610 | +17% above national |
| 8 | Arkansas | $91,610 | +17% above national |
| 9 | California | $87,550 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Oregon | $87,110 | +12% above national |
| 11 | New Jersey | $86,820 | +11% above national |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $83,710 | +7% above national |
| 13 | Idaho | $82,980 | +6% above national |
| 14 | West Virginia | $81,710 | +5% above national |
| 15 | New Mexico | $72,610 | 7% below national |
| 16 | Michigan | $72,430 | 7% below national |
| 17 | Mississippi | $71,080 | 9% below national |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $70,110 | 10% below national |
| 19 | South Carolina | $68,510 | 12% below national |
| 20 | Ohio | $67,580 | 13% below national |
| 21 | Minnesota | $66,500 | 15% below national |
| 22 | Illinois | $65,710 | 16% below national |
| 23 | Utah | $63,460 | 19% below national |
| 24 | Virginia | $63,000 | 19% below national |
| 25 | New York | $62,980 | 19% below national |
| 26 | North Carolina | $62,920 | 19% below national |
| 27 | Colorado | $62,870 | 20% below national |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $62,720 | 20% below national |
| 29 | Iowa | $60,440 | 23% below national |
| 30 | Washington | $60,120 | 23% below national |
| 31 | South Dakota | $59,970 | 23% below national |
| 32 | Missouri | $55,470 | 29% below national |
| 33 | Georgia | $49,230 | 37% below national |
| 34 | Indiana | $49,110 | 37% below national |
| 35 | Tennessee | $45,830 | 41% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 28 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $117,430 | +50% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $111,900 | +43% above national |
| 3 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $106,020 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Baton Rouge, LA | $104,410 | +34% above national |
| 5 | Lake Charles, LA | $102,310 | +31% above national |
| 6 | Mobile, AL | $96,210 | +23% above national |
| 7 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $92,260 | +18% above national |
| 8 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,470 | +16% above national |
| 9 | Worcester, MA | $88,510 | +13% above national |
| 10 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,210 | +12% above national |
| 11 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $84,390 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $82,170 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $77,930 | same as national |
| 14 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $77,260 | 1% below national |
| 15 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,710 | 11% below national |
| 16 | Spartanburg, SC | $68,810 | 12% below national |
| 17 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $68,590 | 12% below national |
| 18 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $67,540 | 14% below national |
| 19 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $66,840 | 14% below national |
| 20 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,640 | 15% below national |
| 21 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,750 | 16% below national |
| 22 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $65,450 | 16% below national |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $64,360 | 18% below national |
| 24 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $62,160 | 20% below national |
| 25 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $60,430 | 23% below national |
| 26 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $57,370 | 27% below national |
| 27 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $55,210 | 29% below national |
| 28 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $52,330 | 33% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
SOC 51-9191
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
SOC 51-2011
Bakers
SOC 51-3011
Butchers and Meat Cutters
SOC 51-3021
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
SOC 51-7011
Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($78,120 here) and reported employment (16,610 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Chemical Plant and System Operators make? ▼
Where does Chemical Plant and System Operators pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Chemical Plant and System Operators the most? ▼
What education do Chemical Plant and System Operators need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Chemical Plant and System Operators? ▼
Is Chemical Plant and System Operators a good career? ▼
How does Chemical Plant and System Operators pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Chemical Plant and System Operators? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Chemical Plant and System Operators pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $98,660/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Florida leads at $128,830/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.