Salary guide, May 2025
Chemical Operator pay by metro, ranked
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.
Of 393 metros, BLS published an exact annual median for 28. The highest is Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX at $117,430 and the lowest is St. Louis, MO-IL at $52,330. 0 more are published but not rankable and 365 are not published by bls.
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.
- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$117,430
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$111,900
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$106,020
- Baton Rouge, LA$104,410
- Lake Charles, LA$102,310
- Mobile, AL$96,210
- New Orleans-Metairie, LA$92,260
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$90,470
- Worcester, MA$88,510
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$87,210
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$84,390
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$82,170
- Richmond, VA$77,930
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$77,260
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$69,710
- Spartanburg, SC$68,810
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$68,590
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC$67,540
- Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV$66,840
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$66,640
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$65,750
- Greensboro-High Point, NC$65,450
- Pittsburgh, PA$64,360
- Sioux Falls, SD-MN$62,160
- Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC$60,430
Bars show the top 25 of 28 ranked. The table below lists all 28. Literal BLS medians, May 2025.
| Rank | Metro | BLS occupation | 25th | Median | 75th | Employment | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $101,150 | $117,430 | $117,460 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $86,430 | $111,900 | $111,930 | 300 | 1.18 |
| 3 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $81,180 | $106,020 | $121,560 | 1,420 | 4.05 |
| 4 | Baton Rouge, LA | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $91,100 | $104,410 | $104,570 | 1,720 | 39.39 |
| 5 | Lake Charles, LA | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $80,420 | $102,310 | $121,530 | 740 | 68.5 |
| 6 | Mobile, AL | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $82,030 | $96,210 | $100,250 | 110 | 6.12 |
| 7 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $71,510 | $92,260 | $96,240 | 460 | 9.59 |
| 8 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $80,380 | $90,470 | $91,360 | 200 | 0.2 |
| 9 | Worcester, MA | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $77,390 | $88,510 | $98,000 | 90 | 2.29 |
| 10 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $76,420 | $87,210 | $100,800 | 100 | 0.75 |
| 11 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $73,690 | $84,390 | $84,390 | 30 | 0.57 |
| 12 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $80,710 | $82,170 | $98,590 | 410 | 1.43 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $59,870 | $77,930 | $84,800 | 340 | 4.83 |
| 14 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $62,760 | $77,260 | $94,670 | 310 | 1.01 |
| 15 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $62,080 | $69,710 | $79,670 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 16 | Spartanburg, SC | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $59,320 | $68,810 | $68,810 | 100 | 5.61 |
| 17 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $59,560 | $68,590 | $79,900 | 130 | 0.73 |
| 18 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $60,920 | $67,540 | $77,250 | 80 | 1.88 |
| 19 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $64,100 | $66,840 | $78,340 | 50 | 4.23 |
| 20 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $44,940 | $66,640 | $84,810 | 130 | 0.39 |
| 21 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $57,860 | $65,750 | $74,770 | 110 | 0.23 |
| 22 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $56,560 | $65,450 | $74,560 | 90 | 2.43 |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $64,270 | $64,360 | $80,930 | 280 | 2.32 |
| 24 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $53,370 | $62,160 | $62,620 | 30 | 1.68 |
| 25 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $49,620 | $60,430 | $65,850 | 100 | 2.06 |
| 26 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $45,750 | $57,370 | $70,140 | 100 | 1.54 |
| 27 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $55,070 | $55,210 | $62,980 | 70 | 1.43 |
| 28 | St. Louis, MO-IL | Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091) | $52,290 | $52,330 | $58,430 | 190 | 1.35 |
What should you know about not published by BLS?
Abilene, TX, Aguadilla, PR, Akron, OH, Albany, GA, Albany, OR, Albuquerque, NM, Alexandria, LA, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ, Altoona, PA, Amarillo, TX, Ames, IA, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA, Anchorage, AK, Ann Arbor, MI, Anniston-Oxford, AL, Appleton, WI, Arecibo, PR, Asheville, NC, Athens-Clarke County, GA, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ, Auburn-Opelika, AL, Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, Bakersfield-Delano, CA, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, Bangor, ME, Barnstable Town, MA, Battle Creek, MI, Bay City, MI, Beckley, WV, Bellingham, WA, Bend, OR, Billings, MT, Binghamton, NY, Birmingham, AL, Bismarck, ND, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA, Bloomington, IL, Bloomington, IN, Boise City, ID, Boulder, CO, Bowling Green, KY, Bozeman, MT, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, Brunswick-St. Simons, GA, Burlington, NC, Burlington-South Burlington, VT, Canton-Massillon, OH, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Carson City, NV, Casper, WY, Cedar Rapids, IA, Chambersburg, PA, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Charleston, WV, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, Charlottesville, VA, Chattanooga, TN-GA, Cheyenne, WY, Chico, CA, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, Clarksville, TN-KY, Cleveland, OH, Cleveland, TN, Coeur d'Alene, ID, College Station-Bryan, TX, Colorado Springs, CO, Columbia, MO, Columbia, SC, Columbus, GA-AL, Columbus, IN, Columbus, OH, Corpus Christi, TX, Corvallis, OR, Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, Dalton, GA, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH, Decatur, AL, Decatur, IL, Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, Dothan, AL, Dover, DE, Dubuque, IA, Duluth, MN-WI, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, Eagle Pass, TX, Eau Claire, WI, El Centro, CA, Elizabethtown, KY, Elkhart-Goshen, IN, Elmira, NY, El Paso, TX, Enid, OK, Erie, PA, Eugene-Springfield, OR, Evansville, IN, Fairbanks-College, AK, Fargo, ND-MN, Farmington, NM, Fayetteville, NC, Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR, Flagstaff, AZ, Flint, MI, Florence, SC, Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL, Fond du Lac, WI, Fort Collins-Loveland, CO, Fort Smith, AR-OK, Fort Wayne, IN, Fresno, CA, Gadsden, AL, Gainesville, FL, Gainesville, GA, Gettysburg, PA, Glens Falls, NY, Goldsboro, NC, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Grand Island, NE, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI, Grants Pass, OR, Great Falls, MT, Greeley, CO, Green Bay, WI, Greenville, NC, Guayama, PR, Gulfport-Biloxi, MS, Hammond, LA, Hanford-Corcoran, CA, Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA, Harrisonburg, VA, Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT, Hattiesburg, MS, Helena, MT, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC, Hinesville, GA, Homosassa Springs, FL, Hot Springs, AR, Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Huntsville, AL, Idaho Falls, ID, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN, Iowa City, IA, Ithaca, NY, Jackson, MI, Jackson, MS, Jackson, TN, Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville, NC, Janesville-Beloit, WI, Jefferson City, MO, Johnson City, TN, Johnstown, PA, Jonesboro, AR, Joplin, MO-KS, Kahului-Wailuku, HI, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, Kankakee, IL, Kansas City, MO-KS, Kennewick-Richland, WA, Kenosha, WI, Killeen-Temple, TX, Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA, Kingston, NY, Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY, Knoxville, TN, Kokomo, IN, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN, Lafayette, LA, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN, Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, Lancaster, PA, Lansing-East Lansing, MI, Laredo, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV, Lawrence, KS, Lawton, OK, Lebanon, PA, Lewiston, ID-WA, Lewiston-Auburn, ME, Lexington-Fayette, KY, Lexington Park, MD, Lima, OH, Lincoln, NE, Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR, Logan, UT-ID, Longview, TX, Longview-Kelso, WA, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, Lubbock, TX, Lynchburg, VA, Macon-Bibb County, GA, Madison, WI, Manchester-Nashua, NH, distribution management software, KS, Mankato, MN, Mansfield, OH, Mayaguez, PR, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, Medford, OR, Merced, CA, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, Michigan City-La Porte, IN, Midland, MI, Midland, TX, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, Minot, ND, Missoula, MT, Modesto, CA, Monroe, LA, Monroe, MI, Montgomery, AL, Morgantown, WV, Morristown, TN, Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA, Muncie, IN, Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI, Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC, Napa, CA, Naples-Marco Island, FL, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, New Haven, CT, Niles, MI, North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT, Ocala, FL, Odessa, TX, Ogden, UT, Oklahoma City, OK, Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA, Omaha, NE-IA, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, Oshkosh-Neenah, WI, Owensboro, KY, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA, Paducah, KY-IL, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL, Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV, Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL, Peoria, IL, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC, Pittsfield, MA, Pocatello, ID, Ponce, PR, Portland-South Portland, ME, Port St. Lucie, FL, Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ, Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT, Pueblo, CO, Punta Gorda, FL, Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI, Raleigh-Cary, NC, Rapid City, SD, Reading, PA, Redding, CA, Reno, NV, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, Roanoke, VA, Rochester, MN, Rochester, NY, Rockford, IL, Rocky Mount, NC, Rome, GA, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA, Saginaw, MI, St. Cloud, MN, St. George, UT, St. Joseph, MO-KS, Salem, OR, Salinas, CA, Salisbury, MD, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT, San Angelo, TX, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, Sandusky, OH, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, Savannah, GA, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL, Sebring, FL, Sheboygan, WI, Sherman-Denison, TX, Shreveport-Bossier City, LA, Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ, Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, Springfield, IL, Springfield, MA, Springfield, MO, Springfield, OH, State College, PA, Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA, Stockton-Lodi, CA, Sumter, SC, Syracuse, NY, Tallahassee, FL, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, Terre Haute, IN, Texarkana, TX-AR, Toledo, OH, Topeka, KS, Traverse City, MI, Trenton-Princeton, NJ, Tucson, AZ, Tulsa, OK, Tuscaloosa, AL, Twin Falls, ID, Tyler, TX, Urban Honolulu, HI, Utica-Rome, NY, Valdosta, GA, Vallejo, CA, Victoria, TX, Vineland, NJ, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, Visalia, CA, Waco, TX, Walla Walla, WA, Warner Robins, GA, Waterbury-Shelton, CT, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, Watertown-Fort Drum, NY, Wausau, WI, Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH, Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA, Wheeling, WV-OH, Wichita, KS, Wichita Falls, TX, Wildwood-The Villages, FL, Williamsport, PA, Wilmington, NC, Winchester, VA-WV, Winston-Salem, NC, Yakima, WA, York-Hanover, PA, Youngstown-Warren, OH, Yuba City, CA, Yuma, AZ.
What should you know about role pay against all occupations, by metro?
Ratio = this role's published median divided by the all-occupations median in the same metro, same units, both exact. A ratio above 1.00 means the role's median is higher than the metro's all-occupations median. It makes no cost-of-living claim. Location quotient (LQ) is employment concentration, not a wage index.
- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX2.41
- Lake Charles, LA2.24
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX2.15
- Baton Rouge, LA2.14
- Mobile, AL2.05
- New Orleans-Metairie, LA1.95
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY1.66
- Worcester, MA1.53
- Richmond, VA1.51
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA1.51
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ1.47
- Spartanburg, SC1.44
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA1.44
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD1.42
- Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV1.41
- Greensboro-High Point, NC1.41
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC1.37
- Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC1.30
- Pittsburgh, PA1.30
- Sioux Falls, SD-MN1.30
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH1.23
- Memphis, TN-MS-AR1.22
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN1.20
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI1.18
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO1.10
Bars show the highest 25 of 28. The table lists all.
| Metro | Role median | All-occupations median | Ratio | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $117,430 | $48,630 | 2.41 | Not published by BLS |
| Lake Charles, LA | $102,310 | $45,700 | 2.24 | 68.5 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $106,020 | $49,410 | 2.15 | 4.05 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $104,410 | $48,710 | 2.14 | 39.39 |
| Mobile, AL | $96,210 | $47,000 | 2.05 | 6.12 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $92,260 | $47,290 | 1.95 | 9.59 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $84,390 | $50,790 | 1.66 | 0.57 |
| Worcester, MA | $88,510 | $57,830 | 1.53 | 2.29 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,930 | $51,460 | 1.51 | 4.83 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $111,900 | $74,260 | 1.51 | 1.18 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,470 | $61,430 | 1.47 | 0.2 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $68,810 | $47,650 | 1.44 | 5.61 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,210 | $60,690 | 1.44 | 0.75 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $77,260 | $54,310 | 1.42 | 1.01 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $66,840 | $47,440 | 1.41 | 4.23 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $65,450 | $46,570 | 1.41 | 2.43 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $67,540 | $49,150 | 1.37 | 1.88 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $60,430 | $46,580 | 1.30 | 2.06 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $64,360 | $49,650 | 1.30 | 2.32 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $62,160 | $47,970 | 1.30 | 1.68 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $82,170 | $66,620 | 1.23 | 1.43 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $57,370 | $46,890 | 1.22 | 1.54 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,750 | $54,720 | 1.20 | 0.23 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,710 | $59,320 | 1.18 | Not published by BLS |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $68,590 | $62,320 | 1.10 | 0.73 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $52,330 | $49,990 | 1.05 | 1.35 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $55,210 | $58,460 | 0.94 | 1.43 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,640 | $71,060 | 0.94 | 0.39 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-8091 Chemical Plant and System Operators, Beaumont-Port Arthur. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How should you read Chemical Operator metro ranking?
Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX has a published annual median of $117,430 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount.
A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX row, the published lower quartile is $101,150 and the upper quartile is $117,460. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX employment estimate is not published. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Chemical Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI has a published annual median of $69,710 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI row, the published lower quartile is $62,080 and the upper quartile is $79,670. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI employment estimate is not published. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Chemical Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in St. Louis, MO-IL has a published annual median of $52,330 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in St. Louis, MO-IL row, the published lower quartile is $52,290 and the upper quartile is $58,430. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in St. Louis, MO-IL employment estimate is 190. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Chemical Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Which questions matter for Chemical Operator metro ranking?
Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX has a published annual median of $117,430 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening.
Does Chemical Operator metro ranking give an exact offer for my plant?
Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX has a published annual median of $117,430 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
What does the wage band in Chemical Operator metro ranking describe?
For the same Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX row, the published lower quartile is $101,150 and the upper quartile is $117,460. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
Does the employment figure in Chemical Operator metro ranking measure available candidates?
The Chemical Operator metro ranking: Chemical Operator, mapped to Chemical Plant and System Operators (51-8091), in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX employment estimate is not published. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Chemical Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Chemical Operator source figures · Chemical Operator source figures · Chemical Operator source figures · Methodology
What does this ranking mean for your opening?
The metropolitan wage rankings for chemical operators are often skewed by the presence of large, continuous-process refineries versus specialty batch plants. Because the BLS data combines these vastly different environments, a hiring manager in a specialty chemical facility might misinterpret the data if they are benchmarking against refinery-style wages.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative interpretation, not another BLS estimate.
The metropolitan wage rankings for chemical operators are often skewed by the presence of large, continuous-process refineries versus specialty batch plants. Because the BLS data combines these vastly different environments, a hiring manager in a specialty chemical facility might misinterpret the data if they are benchmarking against refinery-style wages. Always determine if the wage range you are viewing matches the complexity and safety profile of your own operation.
Focus your hiring plan on the candidate’s history with specific chemistries and hazard protocols. An operator who is accustomed to working with reactive materials has a unique skillset that does not map to general production worker averages. If your plant requires strict adherence to batch tickets and high-level safety discipline, the cost to secure such talent will be high regardless of local medians.
Board operator and field operator roles require distinct skill sets. Ensure that your compensation structure is calibrated to the seniority and responsibility level you actually need. For Chemical Operator in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $78,120; the May 2024 median is $73,540. Their arithmetic difference is $4,580. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
When comparing your offer to regional medians, consider the impact of shift-work requirements, such as rotating 12-hour schedules. The wage ranking does not tell you the local tolerance for these shifts. An offer that seems competitive on paper might be rejected if the operator values their current schedule or if they are required to do more manual labor than their current site demands.
What should you know about questions before using this pay map?
Does the wage data capture board operator skill?
No, it blends diverse operator roles. Benchmark against specific responsibilities like DCS handling and safety experience.
Is a refinery salary applicable to my batch plant?
Not necessarily. Evaluate the process complexity and your specific hazards before assuming refinery-level pay is needed.
Do these medians include HAZWOPER training premiums?
The data is not detailed enough to show premiums for specific certifications. Factor those in separately.
Why is the wage rank so high in some metros?
High rankings are often driven by local concentrations of large petrochemical facilities with established seniority pay structures.