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. Excludes “Chemical Plant and System Operators” (51-8091).
National median · BLS
$58,040
▲ +1.66%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$60,710
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
139,630
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 Equipment Operators and Tenders
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$37,440
25th
$45,970
Median (50th)
$58,040
75th
$74,080
90th — top pay
$92,250
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
BLS projects employment of chemical equipment operators and tenders to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 13,900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
140,800 → 145,800
+5,000 jobs
Projected change
+3.6%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
13,900
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 Equipment Operators and Tenders 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 Equipment Operators and Tenders salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
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Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
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
Operation and Control3.9
Operations Monitoring3.8
Monitoring3.6
Judgment and Decision Making3.1
Reading Comprehension3.1
Time Management3.1
Active Listening3.0
Complex Problem Solving3.0
Critical Thinking3.0
Writing3.0
Top knowledge areas
Chemistry4.0
Production and Processing3.9
Mathematics3.5
Mechanical3.1
English Language2.9
Education and Training2.9
Engineering and Technology2.8
Computers and Electronics2.7
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookSAP softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordIBM NotesOperational databases
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 equipment operators and tenders do
Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
Also called
Chemical Operator (Chemical Tech)Chlorination OperatorMultiskill OperatorOutside OperatorChemical Process OperatorChemical Reactor OperatorProcess Equipment OperatorProcess OperatorSpray Dry Operator
More job titles for this occupation (35)
Acid OperatorAcid PatrollerAcid Polymerization OperatorAcid Purification Equipment OperatorAcid Recovery OperatorAcid Retort OperatorAcid TenderAluminum Hydroxide Process OperatorAmmonia Nitrate OperatorAmmonia Still OperatorChemical Equipment ControllerChemical Machine TenderChemical Process Equipment OperatorChemical Unit OperatorChlorinatorChlorinator OperatorChlorine Cells OperatorChlorine OperatorDe-Ionizer OperatorDehydrogenation Converter OperatorDesulphuring OperatorDesulphurizer OperatorDevulcanizer OperatorDevulcanizer TenderHydrochloric Acid OperatorMVA Operator (Monovinylacetylene Operator)MVA Reactor Operator (Monovinylacetylene Reactor Operator)MVA Still Operator (Monovinylacetylene Still Operator)Nitroglycerin Separator OperatorOxidation OperatorReactor OperatorStill OperatorWet Mix OperatorWhite Lead FiltererZinc Chloride 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 Equipment Operators and Tenders, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $58,040.
