Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Texas
$99,000 / year
≈ $8,250 per month · $47.60 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Texas · median $106,500
25th percentile
$76,500Average
$99,00075th percentile
$121,500
$76,500Average
$99,00075th percentile
$121,500
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.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary by state
Alabama$88,500
Arkansas$88,500
California$94,500
Colorado$70,500
Florida$113,000
Georgia$56,000
Idaho$80,000
Illinois$70,500
Indiana$55,500
Iowa$60,500
Kentucky$103,000
Louisiana$99,000
Maryland$90,000
Massachusetts$88,000
Michigan$73,500
Minnesota$68,000
Mississippi$74,500
Missouri$60,500
New Jersey$89,500
New Mexico$76,000
New York$72,000
North Carolina$64,000
Ohio$70,500
Oregon$91,500
Pennsylvania$75,500
South Carolina$68,000
South Dakota$60,500
Tennessee$54,000
Texas$99,000
Utah$63,000
Virginia$66,500
Washington$74,000
West Virginia$78,000
Wisconsin$68,000
Wyoming$108,500
About this role
Chemical Plant and System Operators is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Chemical Plant and System Operatorss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
- Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
- Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
- Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
- Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
- Inspect operating units, such as towers, soap-spray storage tanks, scrubbers, collectors, or driers to ensure that all are functioning and to maintain maximum efficiency.
Top skills: Operations Monitoring Operation and Control Quality Control Analysis Monitoring Critical Thinking Active Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay by experience level
Entry level$50,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$62,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$81,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$102,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$116,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-6.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,600
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary by industry
Chemical Manufacturing
13,380 workers
$84,000Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)
11,340 workers
$87,000Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
1,410 workers
$64,000Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
820 workers
$74,500Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
650 workers
$65,000Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only)
650 workers
$65,000Scientific Research and Development Services
640 workers
$72,500Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only)
630 workers
$76,500Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
570 workers
$106,000Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
570 workers
$106,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Chemical Plant and System Operators pays 48% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Similar-paying roles in Production
Careers related to Chemical Plant and System Operators
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,000
Power Plant Operator$103,500
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
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 $56,000 across 112 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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