Chemical Plant and System Operators

More data on this career

Where the jobs are, and what they pay by industry. Nationwide, the industries that employ the most chemical plant and system operators are Chemical Manufacturing (71% of the jobs counted, median pay $82,200), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (9% of the jobs counted, median pay $58,150), Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4% of the jobs counted, median pay $59,320), Scientific Research and Development Services (4% of the jobs counted, median pay $67,190) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). Among large industries, the highest median pay is in Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing ($110,120), Chemical Manufacturing ($82,200), Chemical Manufacturing ($79,260). Pay differs by industry for many reasons, including the mix of jobs and where employers are located.

Injury and illness rates. For the broader group "Miscellaneous plant and system operators", which includes this career (BLS did not publish enough cases for this exact occupation), employers reported 71.0 nonfatal injury and illness cases with days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers, compared with 94.6 for all U.S. workers; the median case kept the worker away 11 days (all workers: 8) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023-2024). Rates reflect the work setting as well as the occupation.

Union membership. In the broad group "Production", which includes this career, 11.9% of wage and salary workers belong to a union (all U.S. workers: 10.0%); median weekly pay is $1,161 for union members and $945 for workers not in a union (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2025). This is a group figure, not specific to chemical plant and system operators.

Employer benefits. In the broad group "Production", which includes this career, 75% of civilian workers had access to an employer retirement plan, 80% had access to employer medical care benefits, and 77% had paid sick leave, 90% paid vacation and 92% paid holidays (all civilian workers: 75%, 74%, 83%, 77% and 79%) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey, March 2026). This is a group figure, not specific to chemical plant and system operators, and having access to a benefit does not mean every worker uses it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not endorsed this presentation. Employers spent about $37.63 per hour worked on total compensation for the occupational group "Production" in June 2026 ($25.21 in wages and salaries and $12.42 in benefits, 33.0% of the total; all civilian workers: $49.46, with 31.6% in benefits) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation).

Work environment. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, the conditions most often placed at the two highest levels for chemical plant and system operators are: face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams (100%), wear common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets (100%), telephone conversations (92%), importance of being exact or accurate (91%), work with or contribute to a work group or team (83%), time pressure (82%). Each percentage is the share of respondents choosing the top two levels for that condition (for example 'most of the time' or 'continually'), so it describes how common the condition is in the job, not how a particular workplace is (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).

Related careers. O*NET lists these occupations as similar to chemical plant and system operators in the work done and the skills used: Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders, Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Biomass Plant Technicians, Power Plant Operators, Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders, Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).

Compare chemical plant and system operators with other careers (pay, growth, openings and education side by side).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 PUMS (MajorPays' own estimates from the survey; Census is credited as the source of the original data and has not endorsed them); BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses; BLS Current Population Survey; BLS National Compensation Survey (employee benefits); HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (LCA disclosure data, FY2025). MajorPays has selected and reorganized these figures; these agencies have not approved or endorsed them. See it interactively →