Chemical Plant and System Operators
SOC code 51-8091 · O*NET-SOC 51-8091.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$78,120
a year
Hourly
$37.56
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$79,970
$38.45 per hour
Middle 50%
$60,330 – $98,660
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$48,400 – $111,930
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
16,610
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $48,400
- $23.27/hr
- 25th percentile
- $60,330
- $29.01/hr
- Median percentile
- $78,120
- $37.56/hr
- 75th percentile
- $98,660
- $47.44/hr
- 90th percentile
- $111,930
- $53.81/hr
What do chemical plant and system operators do?
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
- Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
- 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.
- Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
- Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
- Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
- Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases or vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, or perfume to towers, or to add products to converter or blending vessels.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a chemical plant and system operators earn?
The national median is $78,120 a year. The full range runs from $48,400 at the 10th percentile to $111,930 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a chemical plant and system operators without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Speaking3.1/5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.3/5
- Chemistry4.3/5
- Mathematics4.3/5
- Production and Processing3.8/5
- Physics3.7/5
- Public Safety and Security3.6/5
- Engineering and Technology3.3/5
- Computers and Electronics3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.