Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for chemical equipment operators and tenders in the U.S. is $58,040 ($27.90 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $58,040
- Mean annual wage
- $60,710
- Median hourly wage
- $27.90
- Employment
- 139,630
139,630 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 25th percentile | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Median (50th) | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| 75th percentile | $74,080 | $35.62 |
| 90th percentile | $92,250 | $44.35 |
Highest-paying states for chemical equipment operators and tenders
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $101,590 | 290 |
| Alabama | $80,330 | 3,280 |
| Montana | $79,570 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $78,580 | 6,430 |
| Idaho | $77,100 | 550 |
| Rhode Island | $69,630 | 430 |
| Washington | $67,300 | 1,720 |
| West Virginia | $66,060 | 1,190 |
| Arkansas | $64,440 | 1,160 |
| Mississippi | $64,360 | 990 |
Lowest-paying states
- Utah: $39,020 median annual wage
- Florida: $44,360 median annual wage
- Arizona: $45,790 median annual wage
- Hawaii: $47,840 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $48,830 median annual wage
About this occupation
Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.
Typical tasks
- Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
- Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
- Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
- Flush or clean equipment, using steam hoses or mechanical reamers.
- Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
- Drain equipment, and pump water or other solutions through to flush and clean tanks or equipment.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 4.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 26.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 24.7% |
| Associate's degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 24.0% |
| Master's degree | 5.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.