Salary guide, May 2025
Chemical Operator pay in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX was $106,020 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $81,180 and $121,560.
The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX median is $27,900 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 houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $59,920 | $81,180 | $106,020 | $121,560 | $124,930 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $28.81 | $39.03 | $50.97 | $58.44 | $60.06 |
BLS estimated 1,420 workers employed in this occupation in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. Location quotient: 4.05.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $48,400 | $60,330 | $78,120 | $98,660 | $111,930 |
| 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 $106,020. The all-occupations median in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX is $49,410. Ratio: 2.15 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 4.05 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?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $75,510 | $101,150 | $105,510 |
| May 2025 | $81,180 | $106,020 | $121,560 |
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, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. 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?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $117,430 | $101,150 to $117,460 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $102,310 | $80,420 to $121,530 |
All roles in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · National page · Chemical Operator ranked across metros