Salary guide, May 2025
Control Room (DCS) Operator pay in Richmond, VA
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The median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Richmond, VA was $77,930 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $59,870 and $84,800.
The Richmond, VA median is $190 below the national median of $78,120, both from BLS May 2025.
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.
What should you know about richmond, VA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $43,330 | $59,870 | $77,930 | $84,800 | $96,520 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20.83 | $28.79 | $37.47 | $40.77 | $46.41 |
BLS estimated 340 workers employed in this occupation in Richmond, VA. Location quotient: 4.83.
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 Control Room (DCS) Operator median is $77,930. The all-occupations median in Richmond, VA is $51,460. Ratio: 1.51 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 4.83 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 | $52,420 | $76,550 | $82,140 |
| May 2025 | $59,870 | $77,930 | $84,800 |
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, Richmond, VA. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,640 | $44,940 to $84,810 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $66,840 | $64,100 to $78,340 |
All roles in Richmond, VA · National page · Control Room (DCS) Operator ranked across metros