Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender Salary
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders earn a median $58,040 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$58,040
$27.90 per hour
Range
$37,440 – $92,250
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
139,630
across the U.S.
▲1.7%
Pay trend: The median for chemical equipment operators and tenders in the U.S. rose from $57,090 (May 2024) to $58,040 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.7%.
What chemical equipment operators and tenders do
Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.6% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 13,900
Employment of chemical equipment operators and tenders is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 13,900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$48,815
per year · effective tax rate 15.9%
$4,068Monthly
$2,034Twice a month
$1,878Every 2 weeks
$23.47Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,785
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,598
- Medicare (1.45%)$842
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$48,815
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 | $32,263 |
| 25th percentile | $45,970 | $22.10 | $39,117 |
| Median (50th) | $58,040 | $27.90 | $48,815 |
| 75th percentile | $74,080 | $35.62 | $60,945 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,250 | $44.35 | $73,728 |
Best cities for chemical equipment operators and tenders (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $93,920 | $72,471 | $79,832 | 2,500 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $79,430 | $64,709 | $65,608 | 9,390 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $60,410 | $48,865 | $47,648 | 4,110 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $61,250 | $48,507 | $46,824 | 4,510 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $54,790 | $43,842 | $38,949 | 8,060 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $47,230 | $40,129 | $38,926 | 3,640 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Baton Rouge, LA — $93,920
- Houston, TX — $79,430
- Chicago, IL — $61,250
- Philadelphia, PA — $60,410
- New York, NY — $54,790
- Dallas, TX — $47,230
Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $101,590 | +18.8% | $80,299 | $48,470 – $101,590 | 290 |
| Alabama | $80,330 | +10.2% | $61,591 | $38,430 – $94,120 | 3,280 |
| Montana | $79,570 | — | $61,673 | $48,820 – $107,540 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $78,580 | +1.7% | $62,140 | $47,480 – $111,210 | 6,430 |
| Idaho | $77,100 | +53.2% | $60,092 | $46,100 – $84,930 | 550 |
| Rhode Island | $69,630 | +13.7% | $55,820 | $37,200 – $100,240 | 430 |
| Washington | $67,300 | +3.2% | $56,176 | $46,420 – $97,130 | 1,720 |
| West Virginia | $66,060 | +3.3% | $53,010 | $44,000 – $93,130 | 1,190 |
| Arkansas | $64,440 | +18.4% | $51,657 | $41,800 – $87,560 | 1,160 |
| Mississippi | $64,360 | +12.9% | $52,051 | $26,240 – $85,520 | 990 |
| Delaware | $63,200 | +3.5% | $50,130 | $50,460 – $82,100 | 1,160 |
| Illinois | $61,940 | −3.6% | $49,028 | $39,210 – $91,600 | 5,580 |
| Tennessee | $60,960 | +3.2% | $51,161 | $36,010 – $74,310 | 3,860 |
| New Mexico | $60,910 | +17.9% | $49,424 | $35,360 – $105,800 | 170 |
| Ohio | $60,550 | +4.0% | $49,949 | $45,450 – $81,840 | 7,830 |
| Texas | $60,150 | +0.4% | $50,511 | $36,230 – $106,230 | 20,880 |
| Virginia | $59,970 | +4.8% | $47,732 | $41,990 – $76,910 | 2,040 |
| Maryland | $59,850 | −2.2% | $47,790 | $39,650 – $78,770 | 1,220 |
| Nebraska | $59,750 | +20.7% | $48,350 | $41,630 – $76,650 | 1,020 |
| Nevada | $58,520 | +28.4% | $49,201 | $44,840 – $77,290 | 210 |
| Connecticut | $58,490 | +5.6% | $47,470 | $36,920 – $77,830 | 860 |
| California | $58,300 | +2.0% | $46,719 | $42,160 – $80,620 | 5,670 |
| Iowa | $57,550 | +4.6% | $46,886 | $46,330 – $82,120 | 2,010 |
| Kentucky | $57,530 | −9.2% | $46,509 | $39,470 – $91,430 | 3,590 |
| Maine | $57,240 | +9.8% | $45,490 | $41,450 – $67,780 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $56,920 | +15.2% | $45,289 | $41,560 – $77,700 | 2,860 |
| Indiana | $56,800 | −3.6% | $46,173 | $37,680 – $75,550 | 6,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,630 | +12.9% | $45,944 | $38,710 – $81,840 | 6,230 |
| Oregon | $56,510 | +1.4% | $43,471 | $43,460 – $81,190 | 950 |
| New Jersey | $56,500 | +13.7% | $46,004 | $35,980 – $79,780 | 8,560 |
| South Carolina | $56,240 | −0.6% | $45,152 | $37,700 – $72,590 | 4,040 |
| Kansas | $54,890 | +11.4% | $44,021 | $35,800 – $76,260 | 1,920 |
| Minnesota | $53,340 | +6.0% | $42,935 | $40,210 – $74,290 | 1,170 |
| Wisconsin | $50,870 | +3.5% | $41,597 | $41,390 – $65,650 | 2,730 |
| Missouri | $50,640 | +0.4% | $41,426 | $36,370 – $76,120 | 2,790 |
| Colorado | $50,370 | −0.9% | $41,144 | $42,630 – $73,620 | 910 |
| Oklahoma | $50,160 | +1.4% | $40,772 | $37,340 – $81,820 | 790 |
| Michigan | $50,060 | +1.2% | $40,526 | $38,430 – $80,470 | 5,210 |
| Georgia | $49,660 | +4.8% | $40,127 | $35,700 – $71,000 | 4,330 |
| North Carolina | $49,650 | −7.0% | $40,601 | $38,500 – $72,220 | 5,260 |
| New York | $49,640 | −5.2% | $39,982 | $38,280 – $78,350 | 4,270 |
| New Hampshire | $49,440 | −8.3% | $41,905 | $49,440 – $58,880 | 350 |
| South Dakota | $48,830 | +3.8% | $41,415 | $46,400 – $58,320 | 230 |
| Hawaii | $47,840 | −12.6% | $38,491 | $39,000 – $58,080 | 30 |
| Arizona | $45,790 | −0.7% | $38,036 | $34,840 – $75,300 | 1,330 |
| Florida | $44,360 | −5.2% | $37,823 | $30,250 – $69,720 | 4,270 |
| Utah | $39,020 | −0.2% | $32,743 | $34,770 – $62,300 | 2,610 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.7% |
| Tire Builder | $57,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.8% |
| Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker | $52,540 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.2% |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $51,430 | High school diploma or equivalent | +8.2% |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | High school diploma or equivalent | -9.4% |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.6% |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.9% |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.1% |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,540 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical equipment operator and tender make?
The national median salary for chemical equipment operators and tenders is $58,040 a year ($27.90 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,440 and the top 10% earn over $92,250. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays chemical equipment operators and tenders the most?
Wyoming has the highest median pay at $101,590. After taxes and local prices, Baton Rouge, LA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many chemical equipment operators and tenders are there in the U.S.?
About 139,630 people work as chemical equipment operators and tenders nationwide.