Occupation salary profile

Plant and System Operators, All Other

SOC 51-8099 BLS OEWS May 2025

All plant and system operators not listed separately.

National median · BLS
$62,470
▲ +1.23% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$65,700
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
14,080
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Plant and System Operators, All Other

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$40,700
25th$48,900
Median (50th)$62,470
75th$78,480
90th — top pay$94,560

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Plant and System Operators, All Other

BLS projects employment of plant and system operators, all other to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,200 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
14,300 → 14,600
+300 jobs
Projected change
+2.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,200
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
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

About the job

What workers in this group do

Specialties within this occupation
  • Biofuels Processing Technicians
More job titles for this occupation (46)
Asphalt Plant OperatorBatch and Furnace OperatorBatch Plant OperatorBatcher OperatorBiodiesel Process Control TechnicianBiodiesel Processing TechnicianBiodiesel Production AssociateBiodiesel Production TechnicianBiofuels Data ScientistBiofuels Processing TechnicianBiofuels Production AssociateBiofuels Production TechnicianBiomass Plant TechnicianBoard OperatorBulk Plant OperatorCement Boat and Barge LoaderCharge Machine OperatorChemical OperatorChief Lock Tender OperatorCoal Pipeline OperatorConcrete Batch Plant OperatorControl Board OperatorEthanol OperatorFire TenderForming Process WorkerGarbage StokerHigh Pressure FirerIncinerator AttendantIncinerator OperatorIrrigation System OperatorLime Filter OperatorLock TenderMash Preparatory OperatorPanelboard OperatorPressure ControllerProcess OperatorProcess TechnicianProduction OperatorRecovery OperatorRolleyRolling AttendantSand Plant AttendantSystems TechnicianVentilation Equipment TenderWastewater Treatment Plant AttendantWatershed Tender

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.