Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$73,540
↑ 31.5% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Chemical Plant and System Operators — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Chemical Plant and System Operators — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 31.5% since 2011 ($55,940 → $73,540)
🏆Peak year: 2022 at $82,670
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 5.5% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -10%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $73,540 | -8.1% |
| 2023 | $80,030 | -3.2% |
| 2022 | $82,670 | +17.8% |
| 2021 | $70,200 | +6.4% |
| 2020 | $65,960 | +5.5% |
| 2019 | $62,550 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | $62,060 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | $62,170 | +3.8% |
| 2016 | $59,920 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | $59,320 | +6.1% |
| 2014 | $55,900 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | $54,730 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | $54,390 | -2.8% |
| 2011 | $55,940 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.