Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for chemical equipment operators and tenderss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $60,710 ≈ $29/hr
National median salary $58,040
Total employment 139,630 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +3.3%
About as fast as average
Annual openings 14,400 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 128,900 → 133,100 (+4,300)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Wyoming$84,480
- Louisiana$79,770
- Montana$77,590
- Rhode Island$73,080
- West Virginia$70,410
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Utah$45,400
- Florida$47,040
- Arizona$50,800
- Hawaii$50,890
- South Dakota$51,430
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $84,480 | $101,590 | $41 | +39.2% | 290 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $79,770 | $78,580 | $38 | +31.4% | 6,430 |
| 3 | Montana | $77,590 | $79,570 | $37 | +27.8% | 40 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $73,080 | $69,630 | $35 | +20.4% | 430 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $70,410 | $66,060 | $34 | +16% | 1,190 |
| 6 | Alabama | $70,250 | $80,330 | $34 | +15.7% | 3,280 |
| 7 | Texas | $68,970 | $60,150 | $33 | +13.6% | 20,880 |
| 8 | Idaho | $68,400 | $77,100 | $33 | +12.7% | 550 |
| 9 | Washington | $68,000 | $67,300 | $33 | +12% | 1,720 |
| 10 | Delaware | $65,630 | $63,200 | $32 | +8.1% | 1,160 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $64,900 | $64,440 | $31 | +6.9% | 1,160 |
| 12 | Illinois | $64,120 | $61,940 | $31 | +5.6% | 5,580 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $63,230 | $60,910 | $30 | +4.2% | 170 |
| 14 | Ohio | $63,120 | $60,550 | $30 | +4% | 7,830 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $61,950 | $57,530 | $30 | +2% | 3,590 |
| 16 | California | $60,460 | $58,300 | $29 | -0.4% | 5,670 |
| 17 | Iowa | $60,430 | $57,550 | $29 | -0.5% | 2,010 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $60,140 | $64,360 | $29 | -0.9% | 990 |
| 19 | Maryland | $59,650 | $59,850 | $29 | -1.7% | 1,220 |
| 20 | Oregon | $59,530 | $56,510 | $29 | -1.9% | 950 |
| 21 | Virginia | $59,350 | $59,970 | $29 | -2.2% | 2,040 |
| 22 | Nevada | $58,690 | $58,520 | $28 | -3.3% | 210 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $58,670 | $56,500 | $28 | -3.4% | 8,560 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $58,620 | $58,490 | $28 | -3.4% | 860 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $58,170 | $56,630 | $28 | -4.2% | 6,230 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $57,580 | $56,920 | $28 | -5.2% | 2,860 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $57,300 | $59,750 | $28 | -5.6% | 1,020 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $57,020 | $60,960 | $27 | -6.1% | 3,860 |
| 29 | Kansas | $56,800 | $54,890 | $27 | -6.4% | 1,920 |
| 30 | Michigan | $56,570 | $50,060 | $27 | -6.8% | 5,210 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $56,100 | $50,160 | $27 | -7.6% | 790 |
| 32 | Indiana | $56,010 | $56,800 | $27 | -7.7% | 6,240 |
| 33 | Maine | $55,700 | $57,240 | $27 | -8.3% | 250 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $55,270 | $56,240 | $27 | -9% | 4,040 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $55,130 | $53,340 | $27 | -9.2% | 1,170 |
| 36 | New York | $54,890 | $49,640 | $26 | -9.6% | 4,270 |
| 37 | Colorado | $54,540 | $50,370 | $26 | -10.2% | 910 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $54,510 | $50,870 | $26 | -10.2% | 2,730 |
| 39 | Missouri | $54,290 | $50,640 | $26 | -10.6% | 2,790 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $53,430 | $49,440 | $26 | -12% | 350 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $53,270 | $49,650 | $26 | -12.3% | 5,260 |
| 42 | Georgia | $51,900 | $49,660 | $25 | -14.5% | 4,330 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $51,430 | $48,830 | $25 | -15.3% | 230 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $50,890 | $47,840 | $24 | -16.2% | 30 |
| 45 | Arizona | $50,800 | $45,790 | $24 | -16.3% | 1,330 |
| 46 | Florida | $47,040 | $44,360 | $23 | -22.5% | 4,270 |
| 47 | Utah | $45,400 | $39,020 | $22 | -25.2% | 2,610 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 270 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $96,790 | $82,810 | 1,540 |
| 2 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $94,450 | $83,100 | 1,330 |
| 3 | Baton Rouge, LA | $93,920 | $89,350 | 2,500 |
| 4 | Corpus Christi, TX | $91,560 | $78,020 | 450 |
| 5 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $87,670 | $79,510 | 520 |
| 6 | Mobile, AL | $84,740 | $80,750 | 700 |
| 7 | Montgomery, AL | $84,360 | $72,810 | 160 |
| 8 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $82,480 | $77,650 | 530 |
| 9 | Decatur, AL | $82,170 | $83,730 | 760 |
| 10 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $82,050 | $73,700 | 290 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing chemical equipment operators and tenderss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $98,320 | $89,770 | 2,060 |
| 2 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $98,320 | $89,770 | 2,060 |
| 3 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $83,490 | $77,380 | 40 |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $78,520 | $71,140 | 670 |
| 5 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $78,520 | $70,950 | 650 |
| 6 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $78,520 | $70,950 | 650 |
| 7 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $78,520 | $71,140 | 670 |
| 8 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $71,880 | $69,420 | 120 |
| 9 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $67,220 | $69,910 | — |
| 10 | Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $67,220 | $69,140 | — |
| 11 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $64,430 | $65,730 | 1,180 |
| 12 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $64,020 | $66,520 | 360 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do chemical equipment operators and tenders make in the U.S.?
The median chemical equipment operators and tenders salary in the United States is $58,040 per year (mean $60,710), and about 80% earn between $37,440 and $92,250.
How much do chemical equipment operators and tenders make per hour?
Roughly $29 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $60,710 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays chemical equipment operators and tenders the most?
Wyoming has the highest average pay for chemical equipment operators and tenders at $84,480 per year (median $101,590).
What is the job outlook for chemical equipment operators and tenders?
Employment is projected to change +3.3% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 14,400 openings per year.