Top 15 cities for chemical plant and system operators by average salary
| Beaumont, TX | $107,760 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $103,110 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $99,170 |
| Houston, TX | $99,020 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $98,990 |
| Mobile, AL | $91,540 |
| Worcester, MA | $89,040 |
| Portland, OR | $87,710 |
| New Orleans, LA | $86,810 |
| New York, NY | $86,190 |
| Boston, MA | $83,840 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $82,270 |
| Buffalo, NY | $79,780 |
| Richmond, VA | $72,950 |
| Denver, CO | $71,600 |
Map: Chemical Plant and System Operators salary by metro area
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Chemical Plant and System Operators salary by state
Florida pays chemical plant and system operators the most statewide, $109,100 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $109,100 | $128,830 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wyoming | $104,740 | $107,810 | 300 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $99,730 | $97,550 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Texas | $95,620 | $102,750 | 2,360 | 2 | $107,760 | $99,020 |
| Louisiana | $95,460 | $100,060 | 3,400 | 3 | $99,170 | $86,810 |
| California | $91,260 | $87,550 | 780 | 1 | $103,110 | $103,110 |
| Oregon | $88,420 | $87,110 | 120 | 1 | $87,710 | $87,710 |
| Maryland | $86,860 | $95,150 | 290 | 1 | $68,680 | $68,680 |
| New Jersey | $86,380 | $86,820 | 330 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Alabama | $85,710 | $91,610 | 230 | 1 | $91,540 | $91,540 |
| Arkansas | $85,470 | $91,610 | 240 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $85,260 | $83,710 | 570 | 2 | $89,040 | $83,840 |
| Idaho | $77,120 | $82,980 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| West Virginia | $75,250 | $81,710 | 380 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico | $73,430 | $72,610 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $72,840 | $70,110 | 770 | 2 | $82,270 | $70,210 |
| Mississippi | $71,980 | $71,080 | 320 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | $71,570 | $60,120 | 350 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Michigan | $71,060 | $72,430 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $69,890 | $69,890 |
| New York | $69,740 | $62,980 | 120 | 3 | $86,190 | $64,100 |
| Illinois | $68,240 | $65,710 | 160 | 1 | $66,660 | $66,660 |
| Ohio | $68,160 | $67,580 | 240 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $67,920 | $62,870 | 400 | 1 | $71,600 | $71,600 |
| Minnesota | $65,940 | $66,500 | 150 | 1 | $71,300 | $71,300 |
| South Carolina | $65,640 | $68,510 | 610 | 3 | $68,840 | $60,140 |
| Wisconsin | $65,470 | $62,720 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | $64,330 | $63,000 | 760 | 1 | $72,950 | $72,950 |
| North Carolina | $61,970 | $62,920 | 660 | 1 | $64,880 | $64,880 |
| Utah | $60,990 | $63,460 | 320 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $58,650 | $55,470 | 450 | 1 | $56,420 | $56,420 |
| South Dakota | $58,440 | $59,970 | 180 | 1 | $59,630 | $59,630 |
| Iowa | $58,320 | $60,440 | 490 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Georgia | $54,060 | $49,230 | 220 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Indiana | $53,520 | $49,110 | 320 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Tennessee | $52,060 | $45,830 | 350 | 1 | $60,070 | $60,070 |
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont, TX | $107,760 | $117,430 | $51.81 | n/a |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,110 | $111,900 | $49.57 | 300 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $99,170 | $104,410 | $47.68 | 1,720 |
| Houston, TX | $99,020 | $106,020 | $47.61 | 1,420 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $98,990 | $102,310 | $47.59 | 740 |
| Mobile, AL | $91,540 | $96,210 | $44.01 | 110 |
| Worcester, MA | $89,040 | $88,510 | $42.81 | 90 |
| Portland, OR | $87,710 | $87,210 | $42.17 | 100 |
| New Orleans, LA | $86,810 | $92,260 | $41.74 | 460 |
| New York, NY | $86,190 | $90,470 | $41.44 | 200 |
| Boston, MA | $83,840 | $82,170 | $40.31 | 410 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $82,270 | $77,260 | $39.55 | 310 |
| Buffalo, NY | $79,780 | $84,390 | $38.36 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $72,950 | $77,930 | $35.07 | 340 |
| Denver, CO | $71,600 | $68,590 | $34.42 | 130 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $71,300 | $69,710 | $34.28 | n/a |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $70,210 | $64,360 | $33.76 | 280 |
| Washington, DC | $69,890 | $66,640 | $33.60 | 130 |
| Charleston, SC | $68,840 | $67,540 | $33.09 | 80 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $68,680 | $66,840 | $33.02 | 50 |
| Chicago, IL | $66,660 | $65,750 | $32.05 | 110 |
| Greensboro, NC | $64,880 | $65,450 | $31.19 | 90 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $64,250 | $68,810 | $30.89 | 100 |
| Albany, NY | $64,100 | $55,210 | $30.82 | 70 |
| Greenville, SC | $60,140 | $60,430 | $28.92 | 100 |
| Memphis, TN | $60,070 | $57,370 | $28.88 | 100 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $59,630 | $62,160 | $28.67 | 30 |
| St. Louis, MO | $56,420 | $52,330 | $27.12 | 190 |
Related jobs
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsU.S. average $62,540
- Power Plant OperatorsU.S. average $99,790
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsU.S. average $83,960
- Plant and System Operators, All OtherU.S. average $65,700
- Power Distributors and DispatchersU.S. average $111,320
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersU.S. average $90,630
- Gas Plant OperatorsU.S. average $88,710
- Nuclear Power Reactor OperatorsU.S. average $121,380
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary: questions
Where do chemical plant and system operators make the most money?
In Beaumont, TX, with an average of $107,760 a year, among the 28 metro areas we cover.
What is the average chemical plant and system operators salary in the U.S.?
$79,970 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $78,120, so half of chemical plant and system operators earn more than that and half less.
What salary should chemical plant and system operators ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of chemical plant and system operators nationwide earn between $60,330 (25th percentile) and $98,660 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays chemical plant and system operators the most?
Florida, with a statewide average of $109,100 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is chemical plant and system operators pay the lowest?
St. Louis, MO, at $56,420 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8091.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.