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Chemical operator salary
Average chemical operator salary
$40,526
Understanding Chemical Operator Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Chemical Operator is $40,526 per year. This role is essential in industries that rely on chemical manufacturing and processing. Salaries can vary significantly depending on factors such as geographic location, level of experience, and specific industry.
Salary Variations by State
In states like Texas and California, Chemical Operators often earn higher wages due to the concentration of manufacturing facilities. For example, Texas reports higher demand for skilled operators, leading to competitive salaries.
Experience Matters
Entry-level positions may start lower, but as operators gain experience, their earning potential increases. Many operators can find positions that offer additional benefits such as overtime pay and bonuses, enhancing overall compensation.
Job Outlook
With the ongoing growth in the manufacturing sector, the demand for Chemical Operators remains stable. This presents a favorable job outlook for individuals pursuing careers in this field, making it a viable option for job seekers.
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Where can a Chemical Operator earn more?
Chemical operator salary estimates from across the web
Average chemical operator salary by state
The average chemical operator salary in New York, Connecticut, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chemical operator salary states are Colorado, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chemical operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $43,445 | $20.89 |
| 2 | Iowa | $41,352 | $19.88 |
| 3 | Vermont | $42,331 | $20.35 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $41,090 | $19.75 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $40,740 | $19.59 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $41,102 | $19.76 |
| 7 | Missouri | $41,933 | $20.16 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $41,029 | $19.73 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $40,110 | $19.28 |
| 10 | Montana | $40,621 | $19.53 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $42,273 | $20.32 |
| 12 | Alaska | $43,407 | $20.87 |
| 13 | Oregon | $42,574 | $20.47 |
| 14 | Ohio | $40,674 | $19.55 |
| 15 | Delaware | $40,699 | $19.57 |
| 16 | Kansas | $39,844 | $19.16 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $44,476 | $21.38 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $39,372 | $18.93 |
| 19 | Utah | $39,651 | $19.06 |
| 20 | Nevada | $40,944 | $19.68 |
| 21 | New York | $44,652 | $21.47 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $43,569 | $20.95 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $41,095 | $19.76 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $40,787 | $19.61 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $40,048 | $19.25 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $39,631 | $19.05 |
| 27 | Indiana | $38,239 | $18.38 |
| 28 | Michigan | $39,430 | $18.96 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $38,402 | $18.46 |
| 30 | Idaho | $39,226 | $18.86 |
| 31 | Illinois | $40,543 | $19.49 |
| 32 | California | $41,979 | $20.18 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $38,040 | $18.29 |
| 34 | Washington | $40,476 | $19.46 |
| 35 | Alabama | $37,493 | $18.03 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $37,577 | $18.07 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $36,939 | $17.76 |
| 38 | Maryland | $40,113 | $19.29 |
| 39 | Arizona | $38,772 | $18.64 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $36,978 | $17.78 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $36,344 | $17.47 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $36,305 | $17.45 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $37,542 | $18.05 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $36,002 | $17.31 |
| 45 | Texas | $37,592 | $18.07 |
| 46 | Maine | $37,705 | $18.13 |
| 47 | Colorado | $36,786 | $17.69 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $35,309 | $16.98 |
| 49 | Virginia | $37,197 | $17.88 |
| 50 | Georgia | $37,065 | $17.82 |
| 51 | Florida | $34,509 | $16.59 |
Highest paying cities for chemical operators
The highest-paying cities for chemical operators are New York, NY, Hillsboro, OR, and Kansas City, MO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $44,686 | $21.48 |
| 2 | Hillsboro, OR | $42,748 | $20.55 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $42,075 | $20.23 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $41,835 | $20.11 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $41,824 | $20.11 |
| 6 | Cherry Hill, NJ | $41,791 | $20.09 |
| 7 | Waukegan, IL | $41,069 | $19.74 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,058 | $19.74 |
| 9 | Chester, PA | $40,992 | $19.71 |
| 10 | Oak Creek, WI | $40,936 | $19.68 |
| 11 | Lawrence, KS | $39,865 | $19.17 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $39,490 | $18.99 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $37,943 | $18.24 |
| 14 | Huntsville, AL | $37,234 | $17.90 |
| 15 | Savannah, GA | $37,091 | $17.83 |
| 16 | Boulder, CO | $36,922 | $17.75 |
| 17 | North Charleston, SC | $36,363 | $17.48 |
| 18 | Chattanooga, TN | $36,272 | $17.44 |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | $35,424 | $17.03 |
Chemical operator salary details
A chemical operator's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $51,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chemical operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $40,526 | $3,377 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying chemical operator jobs
The highest paying types of chemical operators are chemical plant operator supervisor, boiler operator, and chemical etch operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Operator | $34,457 | $2,871 | $16.57 | 97,656 |
| Production Operator | $35,185 | $2,932 | $16.92 | 117,254 |
| Pilot Plant Operator | $42,462 | $3,539 | $20.41 | 37,804 |
| Batch Plant Operator | $41,126 | $3,427 | $19.77 | 45,697 |
| Process Operator | $37,996 | $3,166 | $18.27 | 83,478 |
| Chemical Technician | $42,584 | $3,549 | $20.47 | 40,191 |
Top companies hiring chemical operators now:
Which companies pay chemical operators the most?
Chemical operator salaries at Westinghouse Appliances Australia and GFS Chemicals are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chemical operator salary at companies like OMNOVA Solutions and Bayer are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | $52,634 | $25.30 |
| 2 | GFS Chemicals | $51,659 | $24.84 |
| 3 | OMNOVA Solutions | $49,894 | $23.99 |
| 4 | Bayer | $49,595 | $23.84 |
| 5 | Baker Hughes | $49,479 | $23.79 |
| 6 | General Electric | $48,487 | $23.31 |
| 7 | Halliburton | $48,464 | $23.30 |
| 8 | Amyris | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| 9 | Xerox | $45,621 | $21.93 |
| 10 | Bio-Rad Laboratories | $45,218 | $21.74 |
| 11 | Veolia Water Tech | $44,871 | $21.57 |
| 12 | Eastman | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| 13 | Tetra Technologies | $44,033 | $21.17 |
| 14 | Chromalloy Gas Turbine LLC | $43,984 | $21.15 |
| 15 | Airgas | $43,890 | $21.10 |
| 16 | Koppers | $43,886 | $21.10 |
| 17 | Stepan | $43,823 | $21.07 |
| 18 | GCP Applied Technologies | $43,820 | $21.07 |
| 19 | Kodak | $43,754 | $21.04 |
| 20 | Axalta | $43,728 | $21.02 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chemical operator salary trends
The average chemical operator salary has risen by $6,157 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chemical operator earned $34,369 annually, but today, they earn $40,526 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for chemical operators over the last decade.
Compare chemical operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chemical operator salary over time
Compare chemical operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chemical operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $40,500 | $19.48 | +5.2% |
| 2025 | $38,400 | $18.48 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $38,100 | $18.33 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | $38,200 | $18.36 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $36,800 | $17.70 | +1.0% |
Recently added chemical operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amyris | Chemical Operator I (4145) | Leland, NC | 06/29/2025 | $38,129 |
| KIK Custom Products Inc. | Chemical Operator-2Nd Shift | Santa Fe Springs, CA | 06/29/2025 | $45,037 |
| Arxada Ag | Chemical Operator | Modesto, CA | 06/29/2025 | $43,827 |
| Evonik Industries | Chemical Operator | Mapleton, IL | 06/27/2025 | $55,786 |
| Arxada Ag | Chemical Operator | Rochester, NY | 06/27/2025 | $50,088 |
| Arch Chemicals | Chemical Operator | Rochester, NY | 06/26/2025 | $60,523 |
| Ineos | Chemical Process Operator | Channahon, IL | 06/26/2025 | $73,045 |
| Aerotek | Chemical Operator | Saint Louis, MO | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Aerotek | Chemical Operator | Kennesaw, GA | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Siegfried Holding AG | Chemical Operator | Pennsville, NJ | 06/24/2025 | $62,610 |
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