Salary guide, May 2025
Chemical Operator pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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The median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV was $66,640 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $44,940 and $84,810.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV median is $11,480 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 washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $41,830 | $44,940 | $66,640 | $84,810 | $100,300 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20.11 | $21.60 | $32.04 | $40.77 | $48.22 |
BLS estimated 130 workers employed in this occupation in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Location quotient: 0.39.
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 $66,640. The all-occupations median in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $71,060. Ratio: 0.94 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.39 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 | $46,980 | $77,030 | $96,530 |
| May 2025 | $44,940 | $66,640 | $84,810 |
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, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $66,840 | $64,100 to $78,340 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,930 | $59,870 to $84,800 |
All roles in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV · National page · Chemical Operator ranked across metros