Chemical Plant and System Operators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for chemical plant and system operatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Tennessee$52,060
- Indiana$53,520
- Georgia$54,060
- Iowa$58,320
- South Dakota$58,440
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $109,100 | $128,830 | $52 | +36.4% | 60 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $104,740 | $107,810 | $50 | +31% | 300 |
| 3 | Kentucky | $99,730 | $97,550 | $48 | +24.7% | 40 |
| 4 | Texas | $95,620 | $102,750 | $46 | +19.6% | 2,360 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $95,460 | $100,060 | $46 | +19.4% | 3,400 |
| 6 | California | $91,260 | $87,550 | $44 | +14.1% | 780 |
| 7 | Oregon | $88,420 | $87,110 | $43 | +10.6% | 120 |
| 8 | Maryland | $86,860 | $95,150 | $42 | +8.6% | 290 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $86,380 | $86,820 | $42 | +8% | 330 |
| 10 | Alabama | $85,710 | $91,610 | $41 | +7.2% | 230 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $85,470 | $91,610 | $41 | +6.9% | 240 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $85,260 | $83,710 | $41 | +6.6% | 570 |
| 13 | Idaho | $77,120 | $82,980 | $37 | -3.6% | 60 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $75,250 | $81,710 | $36 | -5.9% | 380 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $73,430 | $72,610 | $35 | -8.2% | — |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $72,840 | $70,110 | $35 | -8.9% | 770 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $71,980 | $71,080 | $35 | -10% | 320 |
| 18 | Washington | $71,570 | $60,120 | $34 | -10.5% | 350 |
| 19 | Michigan | $71,060 | $72,430 | $34 | -11.1% | 40 |
| 20 | New York | $69,740 | $62,980 | $34 | -12.8% | 120 |
| 21 | Illinois | $68,240 | $65,710 | $33 | -14.7% | 160 |
| 22 | Ohio | $68,160 | $67,580 | $33 | -14.8% | 240 |
| 23 | Colorado | $67,920 | $62,870 | $33 | -15.1% | 400 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $65,940 | $66,500 | $32 | -17.5% | 150 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $65,640 | $68,510 | $32 | -17.9% | 610 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $65,470 | $62,720 | $31 | -18.1% | 90 |
| 27 | Virginia | $64,330 | $63,000 | $31 | -19.6% | 760 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $61,970 | $62,920 | $30 | -22.5% | 660 |
| 29 | Utah | $60,990 | $63,460 | $29 | -23.7% | 320 |
| 30 | Missouri | $58,650 | $55,470 | $28 | -26.7% | 450 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $58,440 | $59,970 | $28 | -26.9% | 180 |
| 32 | Iowa | $58,320 | $60,440 | $28 | -27.1% | 490 |
| 33 | Georgia | $54,060 | $49,230 | $26 | -32.4% | 220 |
| 34 | Indiana | $53,520 | $49,110 | $26 | -33.1% | 320 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $52,060 | $45,830 | $25 | -34.9% | 350 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 39 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $117,430 | $107,760 | — |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $111,900 | $103,110 | 300 |
| 3 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $106,020 | $99,020 | 1,420 |
| 4 | Baton Rouge, LA | $104,410 | $99,170 | 1,720 |
| 5 | Lake Charles, LA | $102,310 | $98,990 | 740 |
| 6 | Mobile, AL | $96,210 | $91,540 | 110 |
| 7 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $92,260 | $86,810 | 460 |
| 8 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $91,610 | $88,330 | 140 |
| 9 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $90,830 | $90,090 | 50 |
| 10 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,470 | $86,190 | 200 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing chemical plant and system operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $110,120 | $102,250 | 570 |
| 2 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $110,120 | $102,250 | 570 |
| 3 | Utilities | $105,110 | $104,890 | 50 |
| 4 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $105,110 | $112,330 | 40 |
| 5 | Sector 22 - Utilities | $105,110 | $104,890 | 50 |
| 6 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $101,160 | $107,720 | — |
| 7 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $101,160 | $107,720 | — |
| 8 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $101,160 | $107,300 | — |
| 9 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $82,200 | $84,020 | 11,340 |
| 10 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $80,420 | $81,530 | 14,510 |
| 11 | Chemical Manufacturing | $80,350 | $81,210 | 13,380 |
| 12 | Engineering Services | $79,910 | $89,510 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do chemical plant and system operators make in the U.S.?
The median chemical plant and system operators salary in the United States is $78,120 per year (mean $79,970), and about 80% earn between $48,400 and $111,930.
How much do chemical plant and system operators make per hour?
Roughly $38 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $79,970 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays chemical plant and system operators the most?
Florida has the highest average pay for chemical plant and system operators at $109,100 per year (median $128,830).
What is the job outlook for chemical plant and system operators?
Employment is projected to change -6.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 1,600 openings per year.