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Pilot plant technician salary
Average pilot plant technician salary
$55,161
Understanding the Pilot Plant Technician Salary
The role of a Pilot Plant Technician is vital in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food production, and chemical manufacturing. These technicians are responsible for operating and maintaining pilot plants, conducting experiments, and ensuring product quality. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Pilot Plant Technician in the United States stands at $55,161 per year, translating to roughly $27 per hour.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors influence the salary of Pilot Plant Technicians, including:
- Experience Level: Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with several years of experience can command higher salaries.
- Geographic Location: Salaries can vary significantly by state, with higher wages typically found in regions with a strong presence of manufacturing facilities.
- Industry: Certain sectors, such as biotechnology, may offer higher compensation due to the specialized skills required.
Opportunities for Advancement
As a Pilot Plant Technician gains experience, there are opportunities for advancement into supervisory roles or specialized positions, which can significantly increase earning potential.
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Where can a Pilot Plant Technician earn more?
Pilot plant technician salaries by experience level
Pilot plant technician salary estimates from across the web
Average pilot plant technician salary by state
The average pilot plant technician salary in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average pilot plant technician salary states are Nevada, Indiana, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for pilot plant technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $67,052 | $32.24 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $66,407 | $31.93 |
| 4 | New York | $64,760 | $31.13 |
| 5 | Arkansas | $57,239 | $27.52 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $58,885 | $28.31 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $55,619 | $26.74 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $59,014 | $28.37 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $66,207 | $31.83 |
| 10 | Illinois | $56,066 | $26.95 |
| 11 | Iowa | $52,241 | $25.12 |
| 12 | Texas | $59,771 | $28.74 |
| 13 | Florida | $56,347 | $27.09 |
| 14 | Missouri | $53,105 | $25.53 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $54,728 | $26.31 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $50,108 | $24.09 |
| 17 | California | $59,808 | $28.75 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $48,775 | $23.45 |
| 19 | Maine | $50,956 | $24.50 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $56,144 | $26.99 |
| 21 | Delaware | $51,792 | $24.90 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $51,244 | $24.64 |
| 23 | Oregon | $55,077 | $26.48 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $51,289 | $24.66 |
| 25 | Maryland | $54,177 | $26.05 |
| 26 | Michigan | $47,799 | $22.98 |
| 27 | Virginia | $54,000 | $25.96 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $49,251 | $23.68 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $50,793 | $24.42 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $56,845 | $27.33 |
| 31 | Alaska | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| 32 | Washington | $52,915 | $25.44 |
| 33 | Vermont | $45,282 | $21.77 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $47,870 | $23.01 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $48,404 | $23.27 |
| 36 | Utah | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| 37 | Ohio | $46,306 | $22.26 |
| 38 | Colorado | $46,011 | $22.12 |
| 39 | Alabama | $42,514 | $20.44 |
| 40 | Georgia | $48,304 | $23.22 |
| 41 | Kansas | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| 42 | Arizona | $42,305 | $20.34 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $51,185 | $24.61 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $43,865 | $21.09 |
| 45 | Indiana | $40,778 | $19.60 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $39,765 | $19.12 |
| 47 | Idaho | $43,898 | $21.10 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $39,472 | $18.98 |
| 49 | Montana | $39,697 | $19.09 |
| 50 | Nevada | $40,946 | $19.69 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $38,681 | $18.60 |
Highest paying cities for pilot plant technicians
The highest-paying cities for pilot plant technicians are Bridgeport, CT, Boston, MA, and Manchester, NH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport, CT | $67,193 | $32.30 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $67,114 | $32.27 |
| 3 | Manchester, NH | $66,445 | $31.94 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $64,880 | $31.19 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $60,287 | $28.98 |
| 6 | South San Francisco, CA | $60,186 | $28.94 |
| 7 | Little Rock, AR | $57,342 | $27.57 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $56,047 | $26.95 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $56,045 | $26.94 |
| 10 | Cheyenne, WY | $55,836 | $26.84 |
| 11 | Jacksonville, FL | $55,543 | $26.70 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $54,280 | $26.10 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $52,924 | $25.44 |
| 14 | Des Moines, IA | $52,227 | $25.11 |
| 15 | Wilmington, DE | $51,901 | $24.95 |
| 16 | Jackson, MS | $51,263 | $24.65 |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | $51,016 | $24.53 |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,170 | $24.12 |
| 19 | Charleston, SC | $49,446 | $23.77 |
| 20 | Charleston, WV | $48,615 | $23.37 |
Pilot plant technician salary details
A pilot plant technician's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a pilot plant technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $55,161 | $4,597 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying pilot plant technician jobs
The highest paying types of pilot plant technicians are research and development technician, pilot, and research assistant, chemistry department.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | $83,128 | $6,927 | $39.97 | 3,049 |
| Laboratory Internship | $35,305 | $2,942 | $16.97 | 90,970 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Microbiological Laboratory Technician | $38,713 | $3,226 | $18.61 | 44,567 |
| Research And Development Technician | $83,552 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 111,268 |
| Research Technician | $43,034 | $3,586 | $20.69 | 64,786 |
Top companies hiring pilot plant technicians now:
Which companies pay pilot plant technicians the most?
Pilot plant technician salaries at Koppers and AbbVie are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pilot plant technician salary at companies like OMNOVA Solutions and Eli Lilly and Company are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koppers | $71,498 | $34.37 |
| 2 | AbbVie | $65,862 | $31.66 |
| 3 | OMNOVA Solutions | $65,815 | $31.64 |
| 4 | Eli Lilly and Company | $65,511 | $31.50 |
| 5 | Amgen | $62,566 | $30.08 |
| 6 | Kodak | $62,401 | $30.00 |
| 7 | The Dow Chemical Company | $62,159 | $29.88 |
| 8 | Aequor Technologies | $61,057 | $29.35 |
| 9 | Genentech | $60,824 | $29.24 |
| 10 | E Ink | $60,152 | $28.92 |
| 11 | FormFactor | $59,753 | $28.73 |
| 12 | Corteva | $59,411 | $28.56 |
| 13 | Nestlé | $57,799 | $27.79 |
| 14 | UPS | $57,663 | $27.72 |
| 15 | Daltile | $57,238 | $27.52 |
| 16 | Interplastic | $56,821 | $27.32 |
| 17 | Balchem | $56,046 | $26.95 |
| 18 | National Renewable Energy Laboratory | $55,713 | $26.79 |
| 19 | 3M Company | $55,638 | $26.75 |
| 20 | System One | $55,599 | $26.73 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Pilot Plant Technician salary by industry
The average pilot plant technician salary varies across industries:
- The average pilot plant technician salary in the pharmaceutical industry is $57,792, the highest of any industry.
- The average pilot plant technician salary in the finance industry is $55,158.
- Pilot plant technicians in the finance industry earn an average salary of $54,405, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for pilot plant technicians
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmaceutical | $57,792 | $27.78 |
| 2 | Real Estate | $55,158 | $26.52 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $54,653 | $26.28 |
| 4 | Finance | $54,405 | $26.16 |
High paying pilot plant technician jobs
Pilot plant technician salary trends
The average pilot plant technician salary has risen by $8,166 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pilot plant technician earned $46,995 annually, but today, they earn $55,161 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for pilot plant technicians over the last decade.
Compare pilot plant technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average pilot plant technician salary over time
Compare pilot plant technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Pilot plant technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $55,200 | $26.52 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $54,600 | $26.25 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $53,000 | $25.47 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $52,100 | $25.07 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $50,600 | $24.33 | +2.0% |
Recently added pilot plant technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Doe Run Company | Pilot Plant Technician | Viburnum, MO | 06/26/2025 | $41,990 |
| Honeywell | R&D Tech I-Pilot Plant Shift Technician | Des Plaines, IL | 06/24/2025 | $40,822 |
| General Mills, Inc. | Pilot Plant Technologist-Golden Valley-1St. Shift | Golden Valley, MN | 06/20/2025 | $49,400 |
| Hormel Foods | Pilot Plant Technician | Austin, MN | 06/14/2025 | $41,218 |
| Eurofins Horti | Pilot Plant Technician | Lafayette, CO | 06/10/2025 | $60,000 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | Pilot Plant Technician | Trumbull, CT | 06/10/2025 | $93,915 |
| Hormel Foods | Pilot Plant Technician | Austin, MN | 05/26/2025 | $41,218 |
| Kelly Services | R&D Pilot Plant Technician | Jacksonville, FL | 05/22/2025 | $39,653 |
| Eurofins USA Food Testing | Pilot Plant Technician | Lafayette, CO | 05/12/2025 | $52,175 |
| Eurofins Scientific | Pilot Plant Technician | Lafayette, LA | 05/10/2025 | $52,175 |
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