Production

Chemical Plant and System Operators

14/100
#557 of 825
$78,120
median pay, U.S.
16,610
employed (2024)
-6.1%
growth, 2024–34
1,600
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is chemical plant and system operators a good career?

It scores 14/100 and ranks #557 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($78,120 vs $61,390)
  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Employment is projected to decline (-6.1% through 2034)

What chemical plant and system operators earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. chemical plant and system operators earn between $60,330 and $98,660 a year.

Best-paying states

Florida statewide
$128,830
Wyoming statewide
$107,810
Texas statewide
$102,750
Louisiana statewide
$100,060
Kentucky statewide
$97,550
Maryland statewide
$95,150
Alabama statewide
$91,610
Arkansas statewide
$91,610
California statewide
$87,550
Oregon statewide
$87,110
$40k $90k $140k

Best-paying metros

01 Beaumont, TX $117,430
02 San Francisco, CA $111,900
03 Houston, TX $106,020
04 Baton Rouge, LA $104,410
05 Lake Charles, LA $102,310
06 Mobile, AL $96,210
07 New Orleans, LA $92,260
08 New York, NY $90,470

Strongest employment concentration

01 Louisiana 3,400
02 Texas 2,360
03 California 780
04 Pennsylvania 770
05 Virginia 760

Live chemical plant and system operators jobs

No live chemical plant and system operators openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified chemical plant and system operators openings will appear here — each shown against the $78,120 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become a chemical plant and system operator

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

High school diploma or equivalent · $60,020 median
High school diploma or equivalent · $96,710 median
High school diploma or equivalent · $102,040 median
Questions about becoming a chemical plant and system operator
How much do chemical plant and system operators make?

The national median wage is $78,120 a year, with the middle half earning between $60,330 and $98,660 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is chemical plant and system operators a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 14 of 100 and ranks #557 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -6.1% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a chemical plant and system operator?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do chemical plant and system operators earn the most?

Among states, Florida pays the highest median ($128,830). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →