Salary guide, May 2025
Control Room (DCS) 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.
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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
The Control Room (DCS) Operator title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
- 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.
National page for Control Room (DCS) Operator · Pay range finder
How should you read Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking?
Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Which questions matter for Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking?
Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking give an exact offer for my plant?
Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking describe?
For the same Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking measure available candidates?
The Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking: Control Room (DCS) 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 Control Room (DCS) Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Control Room (DCS) Operator source figures · Control Room (DCS) Operator source figures · Control Room (DCS) Operator source figures · Methodology
What does this ranking mean for your opening?
The published wage estimates for chemical plant operators encompass a wide variety of roles, meaning they do not provide a clear reflection of the compensation needed to secure a skilled Control Room (DCS) Operator. Hiring managers must recognize that these data points are not specific to high-stakes board operation.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative interpretation, not another BLS estimate.
The published wage estimates for chemical plant operators encompass a wide variety of roles, meaning they do not provide a clear reflection of the compensation needed to secure a skilled Control Room (DCS) Operator. Hiring managers must recognize that these data points are not specific to high-stakes board operation. Relying on these numbers as a guide for your search or as a basis for your offer risks ignoring the reality of the niche talent market for console-based process control.
Effective hiring for this position centers on the ability to interpret abnormal trends and coordinate field activities from the console, which requires experience far beyond simple screen familiarity. The distinction between an operator who can manage a continuous or batch process under pressure and one who simply monitors a display is profound. You must design your hiring process to test this specific judgment, as titles alone are poor indicators of an individual's actual authority or competence.
Professionals capable of managing a complex distributed control system already possess high job security and are often valued by their current employers. To successfully recruit these individuals, you must offer a substantive change in their responsibilities or technical authority. A common mistake is assuming that a standard salary increase will be enough to entice them, when they are frequently more motivated by the scope and nature of the control system they would operate.
A failed search for this role is often the result of failing to define the specific decision-making authority associated with the console. If your candidate cannot see a clear path to owning the process monitoring and coordination, they will likely remain in their current, familiar environment. Before beginning the search, you must be transparent about the expectations you have for abnormal trend detection and how they will coordinate with field personnel.
Engage the right talent by targeting professionals currently operating comparable systems in batch or continuous settings. These people are typically focused on their daily responsibilities rather than active job hunting. Your search should prioritize direct, personalized communication that explains the nuances of your plant's operation, as this is the most effective way to identify someone with the necessary level of skill.
What should you know about questions before using this pay map?
The published salary data represents a broad range of occupations that includes many roles without the high-stakes, console-based responsibility required for a Control Room Operator. Use your internal requirements and the competitive market for specialized process operators to determine your compensation instead.
Can I use the published chemical operator salary data to plan my offer?
The published salary data represents a broad range of occupations that includes many roles without the high-stakes, console-based responsibility required for a Control Room Operator. Use your internal requirements and the competitive market for specialized process operators to determine your compensation instead.
How should I distinguish between console screen familiarity and actual process authority?
Screen familiarity relates to software proficiency, while true process authority involves the ability to interpret trends and make critical adjustments remotely. You should test these capabilities through specific scenarios that reveal whether a candidate can think and act independently when the process deviates.
Why would an experienced DCS operator decline an offer that includes a pay increase?
A pay increase may not be enough if the role does not provide the same or greater level of technical challenge and authority over the control system as their current position. Experienced operators prioritize their ability to effectively manage a process over incremental differences in salary.
What should I communicate to an operator to make them consider moving?
Clearly explain how your plant’s control room setup and process monitoring responsibilities offer them more technical agency or a new challenge compared to their current site. Focus the conversation on the complexity of your system and the critical role they would play in managing it.