Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
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.
Also called: Chemical Operator · Chlorination Operator · Multiskill Operator · Outside Operator · Process Operator · Spray Dry Operator
Median pay (national)
$57,090
$37,270–$88,460 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
127,410
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.3%
~14,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for chemical equipment operators and tenders shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $88,460 versus $37,270 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $57,090 leaves roughly 55% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 14,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 48 states with released data, Wyoming pays the most for this role (median $85,480, +50% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $37,430 — a 128% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, SAP software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
- Read plant specifications to determine products, ingredients, or prescribed modifications of plant procedures.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- SAP software
- IBM Notes
- Operational databases
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Chemistry
- Mechanical
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government