What is the typical salary range for a Chemical Plant and System Operators?

Pay typically falls between $62,500 and $102,000 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary: $83,000 Average

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Average base salary

$83,000 / year

≈ $6,900 per month · $39.90 per hour

Location

25th percentile
$62,500Average
$83,00075th percentile
$102,000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

About this role

Chemical Plant and System Operators is a professional role in the Production job family, focused on Chemical Plant and System Operators work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

How this role compares

Chemical Plant and System Operators pays 51% above the average across 105 roles in the Production job family (family average $55,000).

Similar-paying roles in Production

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$79,500

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$87,000

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer$74,500

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$74,000

Gas Plant Operator$92,000

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$94,000

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic$71,000

Tool and Die Makers$69,000

Plant and System Operators, All Other$68,000

Model Makers, Wood$66,000

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Chemical Plant and System Operators make?

The average base salary for a Chemical Plant and System Operators in the United States is $83,000 per year, or about $39.90 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $62,500 and $102,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Production roles?

The Production job family averages $55,000 across 105 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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