Chemical Plant and System Operator Salary
Chemical Plant and System Operators earn a median $78,120 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$78,120
$37.56 per hour
Range
$48,400 – $111,930
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
16,610
across the U.S.
▲6.2%
Pay trend: The median for chemical plant and system operators in the U.S. rose from $73,540 (May 2024) to $78,120 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.8%.
What chemical plant and system operators do
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
- 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
- -5.2% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 1,300
Employment of chemical plant and system operators is projected to shrink 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,300 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 Plant and System Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$63,787
per year · effective tax rate 18.3%
$5,316Monthly
$2,658Twice a month
$2,453Every 2 weeks
$30.67Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,356
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,843
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,133
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$63,787
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,400 | $23.27 | $41,069 |
| 25th percentile | $60,330 | $29.00 | $50,655 |
| Median (50th) | $78,120 | $37.56 | $63,787 |
| 75th percentile | $98,660 | $47.43 | $78,237 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,930 | $53.81 | $87,573 |
Chemical Plant and System Operator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $128,830 | +87.7% | $99,321 | $64,820 – $135,880 | 60 |
| Wyoming | $107,810 | +3.2% | $84,674 | $88,360 – $114,380 | 300 |
| Texas | $102,750 | +3.5% | $81,115 | $52,460 – $124,220 | 2,360 |
| Louisiana | $100,060 | +3.7% | $76,607 | $62,890 – $122,560 | 3,400 |
| Kentucky | $97,550 | −1.4% | $74,160 | $72,820 – $135,500 | 40 |
| Maryland | $95,150 | +2.4% | $71,612 | $62,390 – $99,760 | 290 |
| Alabama | $91,610 | +8.4% | $68,962 | $56,500 – $101,800 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $91,610 | +98.6% | $69,918 | $74,420 – $97,280 | 240 |
| California | $87,550 | −0.8% | $65,371 | $73,900 – $111,930 | 780 |
| Oregon | $87,110 | — | $63,319 | $68,550 – $102,330 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $86,820 | −2.0% | $66,567 | $62,760 – $115,500 | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $83,710 | +27.8% | $63,754 | $64,870 – $98,630 | 570 |
| Idaho | $82,980 | +44.8% | $63,917 | $54,740 – $97,320 | 60 |
| West Virginia | $81,710 | +20.9% | $63,309 | $44,210 – $90,250 | 380 |
| New Mexico | $72,610 | — | $57,664 | $70,190 – $75,350 | — |
| Michigan | $72,430 | +7.7% | $56,957 | $31,890 – $102,190 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $71,080 | +27.5% | $56,724 | $46,920 – $103,400 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,110 | −7.3% | $56,000 | $54,770 – $90,420 | 770 |
| South Carolina | $68,510 | +12.1% | $54,073 | $49,080 – $75,120 | 610 |
| Ohio | $67,580 | +3.2% | $55,296 | $51,170 – $75,890 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $66,500 | +3.2% | $52,614 | $50,010 – $81,680 | 150 |
| Illinois | $65,710 | −1.3% | $51,870 | $60,580 – $83,690 | 160 |
| Utah | $63,460 | +18.8% | $51,280 | $52,970 – $65,640 | 320 |
| Virginia | $63,000 | +1.7% | $49,992 | $36,330 – $84,800 | 760 |
| New York | $62,980 | +3.2% | $49,981 | $55,070 – $90,690 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $62,920 | +11.1% | $50,734 | $50,790 – $78,580 | 660 |
| Colorado | $62,870 | +4.3% | $50,638 | $54,340 – $81,550 | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $62,720 | +23.0% | $50,597 | $49,180 – $80,060 | 90 |
| Iowa | $60,440 | +0.6% | $49,099 | $46,220 – $65,850 | 490 |
| Washington | $60,120 | +3.2% | $50,486 | $45,760 – $114,010 | 350 |
| South Dakota | $59,970 | +5.8% | $50,366 | $49,790 – $65,640 | 180 |
| Missouri | $55,470 | +9.4% | $45,080 | $46,590 – $78,040 | 450 |
| Georgia | $49,230 | −21.4% | $39,804 | $40,710 – $71,020 | 220 |
| Indiana | $49,110 | −4.0% | $40,221 | $39,140 – $67,470 | 320 |
| Tennessee | $45,830 | −30.7% | $39,004 | $41,620 – $74,850 | 350 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Plant Operator | $87,820 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.0% |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.3% |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.9% |
| Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator | $78,620 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.1% |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator | $60,020 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.7% |
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.1% |
| Power Distributor and Dispatcher | $106,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.2% |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.9% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.8% |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $68,120 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical plant and system operator make?
The national median salary for chemical plant and system operators is $78,120 a year ($37.56 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,400 and the top 10% earn over $111,930. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays chemical plant and system operators the most?
Florida has the highest median pay at $128,830.
How many chemical plant and system operators are there in the U.S.?
About 16,610 people work as chemical plant and system operators nationwide.