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Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in Louisiana

Want to work as a Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in Louisiana? Here’s what you need to know. Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels. Excludes “Chemical Plant and System Operators” (51-8091).

What do Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Make in Louisiana?

The chemical equipment operators and tenders working in Louisiana, wages run about $77,250 per year (or about $37.14/hour).Annual wages span from $47,230 at the 10th percentile to $108,020 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$47,230	$22.71
25th percentile	$60,860	$29.26
Median (50th)	$77,250	$37.14
75th percentile	$99,850	$48.00
90th percentile	$108,020	$51.93

The job concentration index in Louisiana compared to the national average — is 5.02, meaning that chemical equipment operators and tenders are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, chemical equipment operators and tenders earn a median of $64,527 per year ($31.02/hour), exceeding the Louisiana median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 312,227 chemical equipment operators and tenders in the U.S.. In Louisiana alone, around 7,920 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 1,800 chemical equipment operators and tenders.

Top Louisiana Metros for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

These are the Louisiana metros with the most chemical equipment operators and tenders in Louisiana.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Baton Rouge, LA	2,840	$98,790
Lake Charles, LA	2,050	$71,740
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	1,210	$78,930
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	230	n/a
Lafayette, LA	160	$31,500

Top States for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Employment

View the states that employ the most chemical equipment operators and tenders work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	16,190
New Jersey	8,710
Ohio	7,980
Louisiana	7,920
California	5,830
Indiana	5,450
Pennsylvania	5,420
Michigan	4,910
New York	4,550
Tennessee	4,170
Georgia	4,070
South Carolina	3,710
Kentucky	3,580
Illinois	3,490
Massachusetts	3,200
Florida	3,150
Alabama	3,100
Wisconsin	2,730
Missouri	2,590
North Carolina	2,560

Highest-Paying States for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

Where chemical equipment operators and tenders earn the most: chemical equipment operators and tenders.

State	Annual Median Salary
Wyoming	$85,480
Louisiana	$77,250
Alabama	$72,900
Washington	$65,240
Illinois	$64,270
West Virginia	$63,980
Kentucky	$63,380
Rhode Island	$61,260
Maryland	$61,190
Delaware	$61,070

Skills

The most important chemical equipment operators and tenders skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for chemical equipment operators and tenders, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders typically:

• Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
• Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
• Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
• Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
• Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
• Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes.
• Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
• Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing.
• Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
• Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
• Read plant specifications to determine products, ingredients, or prescribed modifications of plant procedures.
• Implement appropriate industrial emergency response procedures.

Work Activities

• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Training and Teaching Others
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Related occupations to chemical equipment operators and tenders include:

• Chemical Engineers
• Chemical Technicians
• Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
• Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Power Plant Operators

Also Known As

Acetone Recovery Worker, Acetylene Plant Operator, Acid Bleacher, Acid Cleaner, Acid Concentrator, Acid Condenser, Acid Extractor, Acid Maker, Acid Operator, Acid Patroller, Acid Polymerization Operator, Acid Purification Equipment Operator, Acid Purifier, Acid Recovery Operator, Acid Regenerator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9011.00