Salary guide, May 2025
Chemical Operator pay in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
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The median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA was $111,900 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $86,430 and $111,930.
The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA median is $33,780 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 san Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $86,410 | $86,430 | $111,900 | $111,930 | $111,930 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $41.54 | $41.55 | $53.80 | $53.81 | $53.81 |
BLS estimated 300 workers employed in this occupation in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Location quotient: 1.18.
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 $111,900. The all-occupations median in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $74,260. Ratio: 1.51 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.18 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 | $83,720 | $108,370 | $108,420 |
| May 2025 | $86,430 | $111,900 | $111,930 |
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, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,210 | $76,420 to $100,800 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $68,590 | $59,560 to $79,900 |
All roles in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · National page · Chemical Operator ranked across metros