Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
National median · BLS
$78,120
▲ +6.23%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$79,970
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
16,610
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Chemical Plant and System Operators
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$48,400
25th
$60,330
Median (50th)
$78,120
75th
$98,660
90th — top pay
$111,930
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Chemical Plant and System Operators
BLS projects employment of chemical plant and system operators to decline 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 1,300 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
16,700 → 15,900
-900 jobs
Projected change
-5.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,300
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Chemical Plant and System Operators salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Chemical Plant and System Operators salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Chemical Plant and System Operators
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring4.3
Operation and Control4.0
Monitoring3.8
Quality Control Analysis3.8
Critical Thinking3.6
Active Listening3.1
Judgment and Decision Making3.1
Reading Comprehension3.1
Speaking3.1
Time Management3.1
Top knowledge areas
Mechanical4.3
Chemistry4.3
Mathematics4.3
Production and Processing3.8
Physics3.7
Public Safety and Security3.6
Engineering and Technology3.3
Computers and Electronics3.1
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WordAlarm management system softwareCoordinated incident management system CIMS softwareDistributed control system DCSInterlock shutdown systems
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What chemical plant and system operators do
Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
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.
Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases or vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, or perfume to towers, or to add products to converter or blending vessels.
Also called
Chemical OperatorPlant Technician (Plant Tech)Process OperatorProcess Technician (Process Tech)Chemical Plant Operations Technician (Chemical Plan Operations Tech)Chemical Plant Production OperatorChemical Process Control OperatorProcess Control OperatorProcess Development AssociateProduction Technician (Production Tech)
More job titles for this occupation (12)
Chemical Plant OperatorChemical Process OperatorChemical Production OperatorChemical Treatment Plant Technician (Chemical Treatment Plant Tech)Development AssociateFurnace Plant OperatorFurnace Process Plant OperatorNitric Acid Plant OperatorProcessing OperatorProcessing Technician (Processing Tech)Production Machine OperatorProduction Operator
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Chemical Plant and System Operators, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $78,120.
