Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary
Production Occupations · 140K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$58,040
Median hourly
$28
Average annual
$60,710
Typical range
$37,440–$92,250
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders is $58,040 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $28 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $37,440 and $92,250 a year. There are roughly 140K people employed as chemical equipment operators and tenders in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders.
- Hourly
- $27.90
- Daily
- $223
- Weekly
- $1,116
- Bi-weekly
- $2,232
- Monthly
- $4,837
- Annual
- $58,040
$58,040 a year is around the 50th percentile for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenderss. The median is $58,040.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Wyoming$101,590
- 2Alabama$80,330
- 3Montana$79,570
- 4Louisiana$78,580
- 5Idaho$77,100
- 6Rhode Island$69,630
- 7Washington$67,300
- 8West Virginia$66,060
- 9Arkansas$64,440
- 10Mississippi$64,360
- 11Delaware$63,200
- 12Illinois$61,940
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$96,790
- 2New Orleans-Metairie, LA$94,450
- 3Baton Rouge, LA$93,920
- 4Corpus Christi, TX$91,560
- 5Mobile, AL$84,740
- 6Montgomery, AL$84,360
- 7Decatur, AL$82,170
- 8Gulfport-Biloxi, MS$82,050
- 9Albany, OR$81,190
- 10Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$79,430
- 11Charleston, WV$77,670
- 12Longview-Kelso, WA$76,390
Related job titles
Employers advertise Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Chemical Plant and System Operators$78,120
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,610
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,750
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$43,530
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,020
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,960
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$48,040
- Power Plant Operators$102,040
What a Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders does
- Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
- Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
- Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
- Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
- Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes.
- Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
- Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing.
- Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders make?
- The median annual wage for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders is $58,040 ($28 per hour). Pay ranges from about $37,440 at the 10th percentile to $92,250 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $60,710, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenderss the most?
- Wyoming has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $101,590.
- Is Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 140K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders do?
- Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.; Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.; Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions..