Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders · California

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary in California

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in California earn a median annual wage of $58,300 —0.4% above the national median of $58,040. That ranks CA #22 of 47 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$58,300
Median hourly
$28.03
Entry level (P10)
$42,160
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$80,620
90th percentile
Employment
5,670
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+0.4%
U.S. $58,040

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$42,160
$46,990
$58,300
$72,690
$42,160$58,300$80,620
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $58,300.

Employment is only 0.35× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for chemical equipment operators and tenders

All 47 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Wyoming$101,590$48.842901.16
2Alabama$80,330$38.623,2801.73
3Montana$79,570$38.25400.08
4Louisiana$78,580$37.786,4303.70
5Idaho$77,100$37.075500.72
6Rhode Island$69,630$33.484300.96
7Washington$67,300$32.361,7200.54
8West Virginia$66,060$31.761,1901.89
9Arkansas$64,440$30.981,1600.99
10Mississippi$64,360$30.949900.94

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do chemical equipment operators and tenders make in California?

The median annual wage for chemical equipment operators and tenders in California is $58,300, or $28.03 per hour. That is 0.4% above the national median of $58,040.

What is the entry-level chemical equipment operators and tenders salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $42,160 per year ($20.27/hour). The 25th percentile is $46,990.

How many people work as chemical equipment operators and tenders in California?

About 5,670 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for chemical equipment operators and tenders?

California ranks #22 of 47 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.35x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Which state pays chemical equipment operators and tenders the most?

Wyoming has the highest median wage at $101,590 per year, followed by Alabama ($80,330) and Montana ($79,570).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes