How much does a chemical plant and system operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $37.56 an hour or $6,510 a month.
- Hourly
- $37.56
- Average (mean)
- $79,970
- Jobs
- 16,610
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,400 | $23.27 | |
| 25th | $60,330 | $29.00 | |
| Median | $78,120 | $37.56 | |
| 75th | $98,660 | $47.43 | |
| 90th | $111,900 | $53.81 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Florida | $128,800 |
| Wyoming | $107,800 |
| Texas | $102,800 |
| Louisiana | $100,100 |
| Kentucky | $97,550 |
| Maryland | $95,150 |
| Alabama | $91,610 |
| Arkansas | $91,610 |
| California | $87,550 |
| Oregon | $87,110 |
| New Jersey | $86,820 |
| Massachusetts | $83,710 |
| Idaho | $82,980 |
| West Virginia | $81,710 |
| New Mexico | $72,610 |
| Michigan | $72,430 |
| Mississippi | $71,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,110 |
| South Carolina | $68,510 |
| Ohio | $67,580 |
| Minnesota | $66,500 |
| Illinois | $65,710 |
| Utah | $63,460 |
| Virginia | $63,000 |
| New York | $62,980 |
| North Carolina | $62,920 |
| Colorado | $62,870 |
| Wisconsin | $62,720 |
| Iowa | $60,440 |
| Washington | $60,120 |
| South Dakota | $59,970 |
| Missouri | $55,470 |
| Georgia | $49,230 |
| Indiana | $49,110 |
| Tennessee | $45,830 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Beaumont, TX | $117,400 |
| San Francisco, CA | $111,900 |
| Houston, TX | $106,000 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $104,400 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $102,300 |
| Mobile, AL | $96,210 |
| New Orleans, LA | $92,260 |
| New York, NY | $90,470 |
| Worcester, MA | $88,510 |
| Portland, OR | $87,210 |
| Buffalo, NY | $84,390 |
| Boston, MA | $82,170 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,930 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $77,260 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $69,710 |
In other countries
Chemical Plant and System Operator belongs to the international group "Chemical processing plant controllers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator$122,900
- Power Distributor and Dispatcher$106,700
- Power Plant Operator$102,000
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator$78,620
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$60,020
- Gas Plant Operator$87,820
- Petroleum Pump System Operator$96,710
- Plant and System Operator$62,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical plant and system operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $37.56 ($78,120 a year).
How much does a chemical plant and system operator make a month?
About $6,510 a month before tax, based on a median of $78,120 a year.
How much does a chemical plant and system operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,400 or less a year ($23.27 an hour); the top 10% make $111,900 or more.
Which state pays chemical plant and system operators the most?
Florida, with a median of $128,800 a year, followed by Wyoming ($107,800) and Texas ($102,800).
Which city pays chemical plant and system operators the most?
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX, with a median of $117,400 a year.
How many chemical plant and system operators are there in the United States?
About 16,610 people work as chemical plant and system operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.