Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between plant operators and chemical operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a plant operator, becoming a chemical operator takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a plant operator has an average salary of $42,697, which is higher than the $40,526 average annual salary of a chemical operator.
The top three skills for a plant operator include plant equipment, plant operations and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a chemical operator are safety procedures, math, and process equipment.
| Plant Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $40,526 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $19.48 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 36,522 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
A plant operator's primary role is to supervise and oversee operations in an industrial setting. They are responsible for controlling machinery and equipment, coordinating with fellow officers, monitoring the quality of progress among a particular unit or department, and maintaining daily operations records. A plant operator may also respond to inquiries and issues, perform basic troubleshooting, and provide corrective measures. Furthermore, a plant operator must conduct regular inspection and maintenance to ensure a safe work environment for everyone, all while implementing the plant's safety policies and regulations.
A chemical operator is responsible for maintaining heavy machines and equipment for chemical processing operations. Chemical operators inspect machinery for any malfunctions, perform immediate repairs, and replace defective components as needed to ensure the equipment's safety and efficiency. They carefully handle chemicals, observe the mixing process, and support process development by assisting on strategic procedures to maximize productivity and plan initiatives. A chemical operator must adhere to the safety protocols of the production, especially on storing chemicals, recording information to the database, and operating machines.
Plant operators and chemical operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $40,526 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $31,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | New York |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | Westinghouse Appliances Australia |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and a chemical operator in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and chemical operators' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 4.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 11% |