Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary
The median chemical plant and system operators salary in the United States is $78,120 per year ($37.56/hour). Salaries range from $48,400 at the entry level to $111,930+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 16,610 chemical plant and system operators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 6.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$78,120
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.56
per hour
Employment
16,610
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$48,400
25th percentile
$60,330
Median
$78,120
75th percentile
$98,660
90th percentile
$111,930
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-6.1%
Decline
Annual Openings
1,600
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$46K$129K■ No data
Top Paying States
Florida
$129K
+65%
Wyoming
$108K
+38%
Texas
$103K
+32%
Louisiana
$100K
+28%
Kentucky
$98K
+25%
Maryland
$95K
+22%
Alabama
$92K
+17%
Arkansas
$92K
+17%
California
$88K
+12%
Oregon
$87K
+12%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $117,430 | +50.3% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $111,900 | +43.2% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $106,020 | +35.7% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $104,410 | +33.7% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $102,310 | +31.0% |
| Mobile, AL | $96,210 | +23.2% |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $92,260 | +18.1% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,470 | +15.8% |
| Worcester, MA | $88,510 | +13.3% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,210 | +11.6% |
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Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A chemical plant and system operators earning $78,120/year would need 763 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 819 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how chemical plant and system operators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Chemical Plant and System Operators salary trend (2011–2024) →