The median pay for Chemical Plant and System Operators is $78,120 a year ($37.56/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 5.2% through 2035, with about 1,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-8091
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Chemical Plant and System Operator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $78,120a year, or $37.56/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $112K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -5.2%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−5.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −5.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,30016,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202516.7K
- Projected 203515.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 16.7K Projected 2035 15.9K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Chemical Operator, Chemical Plant Operations Technician (Chemical Plan Operations Tech), Chemical Plant Production Operator, Chemical Process Control Operator, Plant Technician (Plant Tech), Process Control Operator.
Pay
How much do Chemical Plant and System Operators make?
Every chemical plant and system operator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$78,120
Middle half earn $60,330 to $98,660
- 10th
- $48,400
- 25th
- $60,330
- 75th
- $98,660
- 90th
- $111,930
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,400 |
| 25th | $60,330 |
| Median | $78,120 |
| 75th | $98,660 |
| 90th | $111,930 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $78,120
- Median hourly wage
- $37.56/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $79,970
- People employed
- 16,610
Versus all US occupations
At $78,120, Chemical Plant and System Operators earn 53% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $27,140 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 63% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $111,930 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,400, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 55% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Florida pays the most at $128,830, and still leads at $124,577 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Chemical Plant and System Operators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Florida | $128,830 | $124,577 | 60 |
| 2Wyoming | $107,810 | $116,311 | 300 |
| 3Texas | $102,750 | $105,866 | 2,360 |
| 4Louisiana | $100,060 | $113,438 | 3,400 |
| 5Kentucky | $97,550 | $108,198 | 40 |
| 6Maryland | $95,150 | $90,654 | 290 |
| 7Alabama | $91,610 | $103,138 | 230 |
| 8Arkansas | $91,610 | $105,375 | 240 |
| 9California | $87,550 | $79,073 | 780 |
| 10Oregon | $87,110 | $84,277 | 120 |
Job outlook
Is Chemical Plant and System Operator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -5.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | −5.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Chemical Plant and System Operators to change -5.2% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 900 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,300 openings are projected each year, 7.8% of the 16,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Chemical Plant and System Operator
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Chemical Plant and System Operator do?
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, or product quality.
- Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
- Notify maintenance, stationary engineering, or other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunctions or to adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies.
- Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.
- Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.8
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Writing3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Mathematics2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring4.3
- Operation and Control4.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Troubleshooting2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.3 |
| Operation and Control | 4.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Industrial control software
- Network security or virtual private network VPN management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Chemical Plant and System Operator?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Chemical Plant and System Operator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.2
- Conventional5.2
- Investigative3.2
- Enterprising1.6
- Social1.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Chemical Plant and System Operator
O*NET related occupations
- Production
- Production
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$51,610median a year
Most earn $36K to $80K
−5.7%High school - Production
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator
$60,020median a year
Most earn $39K to $91K
−5.7%High school - Production
Petroleum Pump System Operator, Refinery Operator, and Gauger
$96,710median a year
Most earn $57K to $116K
−1.9%High school - Production
- Production
More production careers
Median annual pay, with chemical plant and system operators highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Chemical Plant and System Operator$78,120
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operator | $78,120 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within chemical plant and system operator
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Chemical Plant and System Operator appears on
Questions
Chemical Plant and System Operator: frequently asked questions
How much do Chemical Plant and System Operators make?
Chemical Plant and System Operators earn a median of $78,120 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 53% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $37.56/hr. The middle half earn between $60,330 and $98,660. The top 10% earn $111,930 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Chemical Plant and System Operator?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Chemical Plant and System Operators. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Chemical Plant and System Operator a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 5.2% over 2025–2035, a loss of 900 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Chemical Plant and System Operator do?
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines. A core O*NET task: monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Chemical Plant and System Operators the most?
The highest state medians for Chemical Plant and System Operators are Florida ($128,830), Wyoming ($107,810), Texas ($102,750) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Chemical Plant and System Operator?
O*NET scores Chemical Plant and System Operators highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.