How to hire a chemical operator

How to hire a chemical operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step chemical operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a chemical operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new chemical operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a chemical operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the chemical operator you need to hire. Certain chemical operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect chemical operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents chemical operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Chemical Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Chemical Operator		$14-24
   Manufacturing Operator	A manufacturing operator is primarily responsible for overseeing and controlling the performance of machines and equipment, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring production operations, conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the accuracy and quality of machinery, performing corrective measures and adjustments as needed, and assessing the quality of finished products, all while adhering to deadlines and goals... Show more	$12-20
   Production Operator	A production operator is responsible for handling and monitoring manufacturing machines in a factory or similar establishment, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and according to schedule. Aside from assisting with the processing and packaging of goods, a production operator must also conduct necessary inspections to the machine or equipment that they are using to make sure that it is in good condition and is safe to use... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Math
   • Process Equipment
   • Basic Math
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Troubleshoot
   • Ladders
   • Chemical Process
   • OSHA
   • Distillation
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Lab Analysis
   • Chemical Plant
   • GMP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage multiple large volume fermentation tanks simultaneously.
   • Add dye to chemical to be mix.
   • Mix chemicals together to make a base for dye.
   • License by the NRC for operation of facility reactor.
   • Provide the QC lab with batch samples as instructed by formula cards for quality disposition.
   • Use Hmi's to control the product being make and sending it to storage tanks.

   More chemical operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your chemical operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A chemical operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, chemical operators' average salary in florida is 23% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level chemical operators 39% less than senior-level chemical operators.
   • Certifications. A chemical operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a chemical operator's salary.

   Average chemical operator salary

   $40,526yearly

   $19.48 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level chemical operator salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average chemical operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$44,686	$21
   2	Oregon	$42,748	$21
   3	Missouri	$42,075	$20
   4	Ohio	$41,835	$20
   5	California	$41,824	$20
   6	New Jersey	$41,791	$20
   7	Illinois	$41,069	$20
   8	Minnesota	$41,058	$20
   9	Pennsylvania	$40,992	$20
   10	Wisconsin	$40,936	$20
   11	Kansas	$39,865	$19
   12	Michigan	$39,490	$19
   13	Indiana	$37,943	$18
   14	Alabama	$37,234	$18
   15	Georgia	$37,091	$18
   16	Colorado	$36,922	$18
   17	South Carolina	$36,363	$17
   18	Tennessee	$36,272	$17
   19	North Carolina	$35,424	$17

   Average chemical operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	$52,634	$25.30	7
   2	GFS Chemicals	$51,659	$24.84	2
   3	OMNOVA Solutions	$49,894	$23.99	1
   4	Bayer	$49,595	$23.84	10
   5	Baker Hughes	$49,479	$23.79	4
   6	General Electric	$48,487	$23.31	50
   7	Halliburton	$48,464	$23.30	2
   8	Amyris	$47,230	$22.71
   9	Xerox	$45,621	$21.93	7
   10	Bio-Rad Laboratories	$45,218	$21.74	5
   11	Veolia Water Tech	$44,871	$21.57	50
   12	Eastman	$44,350	$21.32
   13	Tetra Technologies	$44,033	$21.17	8
   14	Chromalloy Gas Turbine LLC	$43,984	$21.15	39
   15	Airgas	$43,890	$21.10	84
   16	Koppers	$43,886	$21.10	3
   17	Stepan	$43,823	$21.07	1
   18	GCP Applied Technologies	$43,820	$21.07
   19	Kodak	$43,754	$21.04	7
   20	Axalta	$43,728	$21.02	2

4. Writing a chemical operator job description

   A chemical operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a chemical operator job description:

   Chemical operator job description example

   Are you inspired by “what's next”? So are we.
   
   When you join the Albemarle team, you contribute to a better tomorrow. You will play a role in powering many of the world's largest and most critical industries, from energy and communications to transportation and electronics. We are putting innovation to work to improve people's lives and we want YOU to be a part of it.
   
   Job Description
   
   Essential Duties and Responsibilities
   Receives general work instructions orally, from emails, data files and/or from log sheets.Monitors gages and recording instruments and adjusts valves and controls to regulate temperatures, pressures, concentration of solutions and flow of chemicals through the process systems for prescribed reaction within critical limits, according to log sheets and based on prior experience with equipment/process.Monitor equipment for possible PM/PD routine repair and interface with Area maintenance on maintenance needs.Perform minor maintenance and assist in unloading raw materials, and general cleanup work.Transfers materials from one drum to another. Moves finished products to tank farm and loads bulk products into tank trucks.Assure that company and plant policies and procedures are followed.Write permits.Provides instruction and OJT to less experienced operators and trainees who assist in processing operations.
   
   Education Requirements:
   Must have a high school diploma/GED, AND
   
   Arkansas WAGE Industrial Certificate, ORAssociates Degree in Process Technology and Industrial Technology, bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology (or technical related fields), or other related college degree, may be accepted in lieu of WAGE Industrial Certificate.
   
   Requirements of Job:
   Must have worked in a chemical/refinery manufacturing environment, OR have at least two (2) years work experience in manufacturing/industrial environment.Must be able to work 12 hours rotating shifts.Willing to work overtime and respond to call outs.Must be a team player and willing to work independently.Demonstrate safe work practices and philosophy in operations environment.Strong foundation in the knowledge of manufacturing processes and related equipment operations, including general mechanical operation.Must be able to work in varying degrees of heat and cold weather conditions.Good problem-solving and basic process troubleshooting skills.Must have oral and written communication skills, basic math, computer, and electronic skills.Able to work in confined spaces, high places and wear respiratory protection and required PPE, when necessary.Be able to lift 25-50 pounds frequently, 50-100 pounds occasionally with necessary assistance and ability to climb stairs frequently.Must be willing to serve on Emergency Response TeamsOther duties as assigned.
   Choose to unlock your full POTENTIAL. Apply today.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right chemical operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your chemical operator job on Zippia to find and recruit chemical operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting chemical operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new chemical operator

   Once you've selected the best chemical operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new chemical operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a chemical operator?