Salary guide, May 2025
Chemical Operator pay in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
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The median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD was $77,260 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $62,760 and $94,670.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD median is $860 below 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 philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $58,310 | $62,760 | $77,260 | $94,670 | $123,390 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $28.03 | $30.17 | $37.15 | $45.51 | $59.32 |
BLS estimated 310 workers employed in this occupation in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. Location quotient: 1.01.
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 $77,260. The all-occupations median in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $54,310. Ratio: 1.42 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.01 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 | $74,500 | $79,400 | $101,880 |
| May 2025 | $62,760 | $77,260 | $94,670 |
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, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,470 | $80,380 to $91,360 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,640 | $44,940 to $84,810 |
All roles in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD · National page · Chemical Operator ranked across metros