Production
Chemical plant and system operators
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
Median pay
$78,120
Growth to 2035
−5%
declining
Openings a year
1,300
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Chemical plant and system operators
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to chemical plant and system operators
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Chemical plant and system operators: 82% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
- Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
- Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
- Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
- Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
- Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
- Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
- Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases or vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, or perfume to towers, or to add products to converter or blending vessels.
Also called: Chemical Operator · Chemical Plant Operations Technician (Chemical Plan Operations Tech) · Chemical Plant Production Operator · Chemical Process Control Operator · Plant Technician (Plant Tech) · Process Control Operator · Process Development Associate · Process Operator
Outlook and AI
Chemical plant and system operators held 16,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 15,900 by 2035 (−5%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
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