Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for chemical equipment operators and tenders is $58,040, or $27.90 per hour. About 139,630 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $101,590 in Wyoming to $39,020 in Utah.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 47 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $101,590 | $48.84 | 290 | 1.16 |
| 2 | Alabama | $80,330 | $38.62 | 3,280 | 1.73 |
| 3 | Montana | $79,570 | $38.25 | 40 | 0.08 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $78,580 | $37.78 | 6,430 | 3.70 |
| 5 | Idaho | $77,100 | $37.07 | 550 | 0.72 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $69,630 | $33.48 | 430 | 0.96 |
| 7 | Washington | $67,300 | $32.36 | 1,720 | 0.54 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $66,060 | $31.76 | 1,190 | 1.89 |
| 9 | Arkansas | $64,440 | $30.98 | 1,160 | 0.99 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $64,360 | $30.94 | 990 | 0.94 |
| 11 | Delaware | $63,200 | $30.39 | 1,160 | 2.66 |
| 12 | Illinois | $61,940 | $29.78 | 5,580 | 1.02 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $60,960 | $29.31 | 3,860 | 1.31 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $60,910 | $29.28 | 170 | 0.22 |
| 15 | Ohio | $60,550 | $29.11 | 7,830 | 1.57 |
| 16 | Texas | $60,150 | $28.92 | 20,880 | 1.65 |
| 17 | Virginia | $59,970 | $28.83 | 2,040 | 0.55 |
| 18 | Maryland | $59,850 | $28.78 | 1,220 | 0.49 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $59,750 | $28.73 | 1,020 | 1.11 |
| 20 | Nevada | $58,520 | $28.14 | 210 | 0.15 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $58,490 | $28.12 | 860 | 0.57 |
| 22 | California | $58,300 | $28.03 | 5,670 | 0.35 |
| 23 | Iowa | $57,550 | $27.67 | 2,010 | 1.43 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $57,530 | $27.66 | 3,590 | 2.00 |
| 25 | Maine | $57,240 | $27.52 | 250 | 0.44 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $56,920 | $27.37 | 2,860 | 0.88 |
| 27 | Indiana | $56,800 | $27.31 | 6,240 | 2.17 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $56,630 | $27.22 | 6,230 | 1.14 |
| 29 | Oregon | $56,510 | $27.17 | 950 | 0.54 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $56,500 | $27.17 | 8,560 | 2.23 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $56,240 | $27.04 | 4,040 | 1.95 |
| 32 | Kansas | $54,890 | $26.39 | 1,920 | 1.49 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $53,340 | $25.64 | 1,170 | 0.44 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $50,870 | $24.46 | 2,730 | 1.03 |
| 35 | Missouri | $50,640 | $24.35 | 2,790 | 1.06 |
| 36 | Colorado | $50,370 | $24.22 | 910 | 0.35 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $50,160 | $24.12 | 790 | 0.52 |
| 38 | Michigan | $50,060 | $24.07 | 5,210 | 1.32 |
| 39 | Georgia | $49,660 | $23.87 | 4,330 | 0.99 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $49,650 | $23.87 | 5,260 | 1.19 |
| 41 | New York | $49,640 | $23.87 | 4,270 | 0.49 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $49,440 | $23.77 | 350 | 0.57 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $48,830 | $23.48 | 230 | 0.55 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $47,840 | $23.00 | 30 | 0.06 |
| 45 | Arizona | $45,790 | $22.01 | 1,330 | 0.46 |
| 46 | Florida | $44,360 | $21.33 | 4,270 | 0.48 |
| 47 | Utah | $39,020 | $18.76 | 2,610 | 1.68 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical equipment operators and tenders make?
The median annual wage for chemical equipment operators and tenders in the United States is $58,040, or $27.90 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $37,440, and the top 10% earn $92,250.
How many chemical equipment operators and tenders are employed in the U.S.?
About 139,630 people work as chemical equipment operators and tenders nationwide.
Which state pays chemical equipment operators and tenders the most?
Wyoming pays the most at a median of $101,590, followed by Alabama ($80,330) and Montana ($79,570).
Which state pays chemical equipment operators and tenders the least?
Utah has the lowest median at $39,020.
Where are chemical equipment operators and tenders jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Louisiana at 3.70×.