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Chemical Plant and System Operators: Career Profile
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
The Daily Work of Chemical Plant and System Operators Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of chemical plant and system operators include:
- 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.
- Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
- Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
- Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful chemical plant and system operators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Ammonia Still Operator
- Ammonia Technician
- Badger Distiller Operator
- Bucket Wash Operator
- Chemical Operator
- Chemical Plant Operator
- Chemical Process Operator
- Chemical Production Operator
Employment and Demand
There are about 180,891 chemical plant and system operators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +8.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Chemical Plant and System Operators Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $27,362 |
| Hourly median | $13.15 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,650 |
| 75th percentile | $32,073 |
| 90th percentile | $36,785 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Chemical Plant and System Operators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $112,970 |
| Wyoming | $104,420 |
| Texas | $99,250 |
| Kentucky | $98,890 |
| Louisiana | $96,500 |
| Maryland | $92,930 |
| New Jersey | $88,550 |
| California | $88,280 |
| Alabama | $84,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,660 |
| Florida | $68,640 |
| West Virginia | $67,600 |
| Michigan | $67,230 |
| Illinois | $66,580 |
| Tennessee | $66,140 |
| Ohio | $65,510 |
| Massachusetts | $65,500 |
| Montana | $65,190 |
| Minnesota | $64,420 |
| Georgia | $62,600 |
| Connecticut | $62,590 |
| Virginia | $61,950 |
| South Carolina | $61,100 |
| New York | $61,050 |
| Colorado | $60,300 |
| Iowa | $60,100 |
| Washington | $58,280 |
| Idaho | $57,300 |
| South Dakota | $56,690 |
| North Carolina | $56,630 |
| Mississippi | $55,750 |
| Utah | $53,420 |
| Indiana | $51,170 |
| Wisconsin | $51,000 |
| Missouri | $50,700 |
| Arkansas | $46,130 |
Where Chemical Plant and System Operators Earn the Most
Earnings for chemical plant and system operators shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $99,250 | 19.7% | 1.86 |
| Middle Atlantic | $80,890 | 10.0% | 0.89 |
| Far Western US | $80,131 | 5.4% | 0.35 |
| Southeast | $79,383 | 42.5% | 8.73 |
| Plains States | $76,978 | 7.1% | 4.17 |
| Rocky Mountains | $75,503 | 5.4% | 4.92 |
| New England | $65,188 | 1.9% | 0.54 |
| Great Lakes | $61,244 | 8.2% | 0.60 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $108,370 | 250 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $101,150 | 1,820 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $101,130 | 1,640 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | LA | $99,810 | 770 |
| Mobile, AL | AL | $88,730 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $87,820 | |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $85,730 | 70 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | NY | $81,730 | 30 |
Top Industries Employing Chemical Plant and System Operators
Most chemical plant and system operators are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 15,840 | $74,530 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,340 | $55,940 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 130 | $62,250 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 90 | $57,580 |
| Utilities | 60 | $101,880 |
Chemical Plant and System Operators work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for chemical plant and system operators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
Getting Started in This Career
Most chemical plant and system operators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Chemical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Chemists (Supplemental)
- Chemical Technicians (Supplemental)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (Supplemental)
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Power Plant Operators (Primary-Long)
- Biomass Plant Technicians (Primary-Short)
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-8091.00 (Chemical Plant and System Operators).
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