Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for chemical plant and system operators is $78,120, or $37.56 per hour. About 16,610 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $128,830 in Florida to $45,830 in Tennessee.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 35 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $128,830 | $61.94 | 60 | 0.06 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $107,810 | $51.83 | 300 | 10.12 |
| 3 | Texas | $102,750 | $49.40 | 2,360 | 1.57 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $100,060 | $48.10 | 3,400 | 16.43 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $97,550 | $46.90 | 40 | 0.19 |
| 6 | Maryland | $95,150 | $45.75 | 290 | 0.98 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $91,610 | $44.04 | 240 | 1.72 |
| 8 | Alabama | $91,610 | $44.04 | 230 | 1.02 |
| 9 | California | $87,550 | $42.09 | 780 | 0.40 |
| 10 | Oregon | $87,110 | $41.88 | 120 | 0.56 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $86,820 | $41.74 | 330 | 0.73 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $83,710 | $40.25 | 570 | 1.47 |
| 13 | Idaho | $82,980 | $39.90 | 60 | 0.69 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $81,710 | $39.28 | 380 | 5.02 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $72,610 | $34.91 | — | — |
| 16 | Michigan | $72,430 | $34.82 | 40 | 0.08 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $71,080 | $34.17 | 320 | 2.56 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $70,110 | $33.71 | 770 | 1.19 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $68,510 | $32.94 | 610 | 2.49 |
| 20 | Ohio | $67,580 | $32.49 | 240 | 0.40 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $66,500 | $31.97 | 150 | 0.47 |
| 22 | Illinois | $65,710 | $31.59 | 160 | 0.24 |
| 23 | Utah | $63,460 | $30.51 | 320 | 1.73 |
| 24 | Virginia | $63,000 | $30.29 | 760 | 1.74 |
| 25 | New York | $62,980 | $30.28 | 120 | 0.11 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $62,920 | $30.25 | 660 | 1.26 |
| 27 | Colorado | $62,870 | $30.23 | 400 | 1.30 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $62,720 | $30.15 | 90 | 0.29 |
| 29 | Iowa | $60,440 | $29.06 | 490 | 2.93 |
| 30 | Washington | $60,120 | $28.90 | 350 | 0.92 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $59,970 | $28.83 | 180 | 3.60 |
| 32 | Missouri | $55,470 | $26.67 | 450 | 1.45 |
| 33 | Georgia | $49,230 | $23.67 | 220 | 0.43 |
| 34 | Indiana | $49,110 | $23.61 | 320 | 0.94 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $45,830 | $22.03 | 350 | 1.00 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical plant and system operators make?
The median annual wage for chemical plant and system operators in the United States is $78,120, or $37.56 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $48,400, and the top 10% earn $111,930.
How many chemical plant and system operators are employed in the U.S.?
About 16,610 people work as chemical plant and system operators nationwide.
Which state pays chemical plant and system operators the most?
Florida pays the most at a median of $128,830, followed by Wyoming ($107,810) and Texas ($102,750).
Which state pays chemical plant and system operators the least?
Tennessee has the lowest median at $45,830.
Where are chemical plant and system operators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Louisiana at 16.43×.