Salary guide, May 2025

Chemical Operator pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

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The median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH was $82,170 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $80,710 and $98,590.

The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH median is $4,050 above the national median of $78,120, both from BLS May 2025.

Direct match · SOC 51-8091 Chemical Plant and System Operators

Chemical Operator is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.

What should you know about boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

Chemical Plant and System Operators in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: median $82,170; published 25th to 75th percentile $80,710 to $98,590.

Annual wage percentiles, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$64,870	$80,710	$82,170	$98,590	$98,600

Chemical Plant and System Operators in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: median $39.50; published 25th to 75th percentile $38.80 to $47.40.

Hourly wage percentiles, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$31.19	$38.80	$39.50	$47.40	$47.41

BLS estimated 410 workers employed in this occupation in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Location quotient: 1.43.

What should you know about united States?

Chemical Plant and System Operators in U.S.: median $78,120; published 25th to 75th percentile $60,330 to $98,660.

Annual wage percentiles, U.S.
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$48,400	$60,330	$78,120	$98,660	$111,930

Chemical Plant and System Operators in U.S.: median $37.56; published 25th to 75th percentile $29.01 to $47.44.

Hourly wage percentiles, U.S.
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$23.27	$29.01	$37.56	$47.44	$53.81

What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?

The published Chemical Operator median is $82,170. The all-occupations median in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $66,620. Ratio: 1.23 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.43 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.

What should you know about two BLS releases?

Chemical Operator in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, annual wages, May 2024 and May 2025
Release period	25th	Median	75th
May 2024	$60,060	$62,880	$73,510
May 2025	$80,710	$82,170	$98,590

These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-8091 Chemical Plant and System Operators, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-8091 Chemical Plant and System Operators, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.

What should you know about nearby areas?

Nearby areas, Chemical Operator
Area	Median	25th to 75th
Worcester, MA	$88,510	$77,390 to $98,000
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$55,210	$55,070 to $62,980

All roles in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · National page · Chemical Operator ranked across metros