Chemical Production Operator I Salary in the United States
How much does a Chemical Production Operator I make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chemical Production Operator I in the United States is $43,470 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.
However, a Chemical Production Operator I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $51,628
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $39,710 to $47,740
Key Factors That Influence Chemical Production Operator I Salaries
A Chemical Production Operator I's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Chemical Production Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Chemical Production Operator I's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Chemical Production Operator I (0-1 years): $43,461
Chemical Process Equipment Operator (1-3 years): $53,747
Chemical Process Equipment Operator III (3-5 years): $59,269
Chemical Process Equipment Operations Supervisor (5+ years): $90,154
Chemical Process Equipment Operations Manager (5+ years): $125,061
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Chemical Production Operator I
0-1 years
$43,461
Chemical Process Equipment Operator
1-3 years
$53,747
Chemical Process Equipment Operator III
3-5 years
$59,269
Chemical Process Equipment Operations Supervisor
5+ years
$90,154
Chemical Process Equipment Operations Manager
5+ years
$125,061
$43,461Chemical ...
$53,747Chemical ...
$59,269Chemical ...
$90,154Chemical ...
$125,061Chemical ...
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Chemical Production Operator I Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Chemical Production Operator Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $48,130.
California: $47,940.
Massachusetts: $47,300.
District of Columbia$48,130
California$47,940
Massachusetts$47,300
Washington$47,130
New Jersey$47,110
Alaska$47,050
Connecticut$46,450
New York$46,210
Hawaii$45,430
Rhode Island$45,070
Maryland$44,820
Minnesota$44,480
Colorado$44,350
Illinois$44,300
Oregon$44,140
Delaware$44,020
New Hampshire$43,940
Virginia$43,770
Pennsylvania$43,270
Nevada$43,020
North Dakota$42,940
Michigan$42,810
Wisconsin$42,760
Vermont$42,660
Texas$42,400
Maine$42,380
Arizona$42,350
Ohio$42,320
Georgia$41,920
Indiana$41,720
Wyoming$41,680
Utah$41,620
Iowa$41,600
Kansas$41,390
Louisiana$41,330
North Carolina$41,310
Missouri$41,300
Florida$41,130
Montana$41,040
Nebraska$40,950
Kentucky$40,900
South Carolina$40,730
Tennessee$40,620
Idaho$40,580
New Mexico$40,260
Oklahoma$40,190
Alabama$39,930
South Dakota$39,500
Arkansas$39,270
West Virginia$39,140
Mississippi$38,760
Top Paying Cities for Chemical Production Operator Is
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $54,820
San Francisco: $54,220
Oakland: $53,080
San Jose, CA$54,820
San Francisco, CA$54,220
Oakland, CA$53,080
New York, NY$50,050
Paramus, NJ$49,440
Queens Village, NY$49,430
Passaic, NJ$49,390
Bergenfield, NJ$49,390
Stamford, CT$49,290
Huntington, NY$49,280
Newark, NJ$48,960
Bridgeport, CT$48,860
Vallejo, CA$48,780
New Brunswick, NJ$48,760
Petaluma, CA$48,730
Middlesex, NJ$48,650
Somerset, NJ$48,620
Santa Cruz, CA$48,560
Boston, MA$48,300
Monterey, CA$48,150
Seattle, WA$48,050
Santa Rosa, CA$48,040
Los Angeles, CA$48,030
Juneau, AK$47,910
Washington, DC$47,860
Orange, CA$47,710
Santa Ana, CA$47,590
Long Beach, CA$47,550
Anaheim, CA$47,540
Anchorage, AK$47,520
Santa Maria, CA$47,390
Everett, WA$47,380
Danbury, CT$47,230
Bremerton, WA$47,170
Tacoma, WA$47,010
New Suffolk, NY$47,010
Sacramento, CA$47,000
Santa Barbara, CA$46,950
Trenton, NJ$46,900
San Diego, CA$46,900
Brockton, MA$46,860
Fairbanks, AK$46,750
Lompoc, CA$46,640
Lowell, MA$46,600
Ventura, CA$46,600
Nashua, NH$46,590
Stockton, CA$46,580
Modesto, CA$46,260
Poughkeepsie, NY$46,170
Olympia, WA$46,090
Kennewick, WA$46,090
New Haven, CT$46,070
Lawrence, MA$45,910
Hartford, CT$45,870
Riverside, CA$45,860
New Bedford, MA$45,820
Richland, WA$45,820
Bakersfield, CA$45,760
San Bernardino, CA$45,740
New Britain, CT$45,730
Atlantic City, NJ$45,730
New London, CT$45,720
Norwich, CT$45,700
Portsmouth, NH$45,700
Boulder, CO$45,600
Portland, OR$45,540
Worcester, MA$45,540
Minneapolis, MN$45,400
Philadelphia, PA$45,340
Honolulu, HI$45,200
Saint Paul, MN$45,180
Vineland, NJ$45,170
Providence, RI$45,040
Chicago, IL$44,920
Bellingham, WA$44,870
Springfield, MA$44,830
Baltimore, MD$44,820
Chico, CA$44,710
Pittsfield, MA$44,590
Manchester, NH$44,510
Spokane, WA$44,320
Denver, CO$44,310
Albany, NY$44,110
Troy, NY$44,090
Nassau, NY$44,050
Schenectady, NY$44,000
Wilmington, DE$43,970
Burlington, VT$43,900
Salem, OR$43,890
Portland, ME$43,750
Yakima, WA$43,710
Rochester, MN$43,570
Reno, NV$43,550
Fresno, CA$43,550
Milwaukee, WI$43,510
Detroit, MI$43,470
Allentown, PA$43,460
Ann Arbor, MI$43,460
Colorado Springs, CO$43,380
Syracuse, NY$43,360
Carson City, NV$43,360
Houston, TX$43,300
Eugene, OR$43,280
Gary, IN$43,230
Springfield, OR$43,190
Bismarck, ND$43,180
Galveston, TX$43,150
Medford, OR$43,090
Fort Collins, CO$43,070
Concord, NH$43,050
Austin, TX$43,040
Mesa, AZ$42,940
Reading, PA$42,940
Phoenix, AZ$42,940
Dallas, TX$42,920
Saint Cloud, MN$42,880
Madison, WI$42,820
Utica, NY$42,710
Rochester, NY$42,640
Des Moines, IA$42,630
Raleigh, NC$42,630
Atlanta, GA$42,560
Battle Creek, MI$42,550
Salt Lake City, UT$42,540
Lancaster, PA$42,470
Harrisburg, PA$42,410
Kansas City, MO$42,370
Kansas City, KS$42,360
Champaign, IL$42,360
Fort Worth, TX$42,350
Columbus, OH$42,350
Boca Raton, FL$42,340
Pittsburgh, PA$42,320
Richmond, VA$42,300
Indianapolis, IN$42,290
Cleveland, OH$42,290
Cincinnati, OH$42,240
Las Vegas, NV$42,240
Petersburg, VA$42,170
Huntsville, AL$42,110
Lansing, MI$42,080
Lebanon, PA$42,070
Pueblo, CO$42,070
Appleton, WI$42,050
Buffalo, NY$42,040
Dayton, OH$42,020
Charlotte, NC$42,010
Racine, WI$42,010
Saint Louis, MO$42,000
York, PA$41,970
Elkhart, IN$41,970
Gastonia, NC$41,960
Billings, MT$41,950
Beaumont, TX$41,940
Lorain, OH$41,930
Benton Harbor, MI$41,920
Toledo, OH$41,910
Rock Hill, SC$41,890
Binghamton, NY$41,890
Rockford, IL$41,870
Springfield, IL$41,850
Elyria, OH$41,840
Fargo, ND$41,840
Flagstaff, AZ$41,810
Fort Lauderdale, FL$41,790
Duluth, MN$41,760
Miami, FL$41,760
Cheyenne, WY$41,730
Grand Forks, ND$41,730
Bangor, ME$41,640
Cedar Rapids, IA$41,590
Durham, NC$41,570
Louisville, KY$41,570
Grand Rapids, MI$41,560
Hialeah, FL$41,550
Casper, WY$41,490
Scranton, PA$41,440
New Orleans, LA$41,430
Virginia Beach, VA$41,420
Akron, OH$41,400
Peoria, IL$41,350
Sarasota, FL$41,340
Nashville, TN$41,310
Omaha, NE$41,310
Green Bay, WI$41,310
Baton Rouge, LA$41,280
Charleston, SC$41,280
Jamestown, NY$41,250
Davenport, IA$41,250
Tucson, AZ$41,230
Saint Petersburg, FL$41,210
Tampa, FL$41,200
Evansville, IN$41,170
Port Arthur, TX$41,170
Bradenton, FL$41,150
Santa Fe, NM$41,080
Orlando, FL$41,000
Clearwater, FL$40,980
La Crosse, WI$40,890
Canton, OH$40,890
Albuquerque, NM$40,870
Newport News, VA$40,860
High Point, NC$40,850
Ogden, UT$40,830
Corpus Christi, TX$40,800
Norfolk, VA$40,770
Laramie, WY$40,770
Rock Island, IL$40,750
Saginaw, MI$40,740
Jacksonville, FL$40,730
Salisbury, NC$40,720
Boise, ID$40,710
Moline, IL$40,690
Fort Myers, FL$40,680
Memphis, TN$40,670
Tulsa, OK$40,650
Waterloo, IA$40,620
Spartanburg, SC$40,580
Lincoln, NE$40,560
Fort Wayne, IN$40,550
Provo, UT$40,550
Cedar Falls, IA$40,490
San Antonio, TX$40,480
Greensboro, NC$40,460
South Bend, IN$40,450
Savannah, GA$40,410
Muskegon, MI$40,390
Birmingham, AL$40,380
Winston Salem, NC$40,360
Lake Charles, LA$40,260
Anderson, IN$40,250
Lexington, KY$40,240
Augusta, GA$40,220
Greenville, SC$40,220
Lima, OH$40,190
Wichita, KS$40,180
Tuscaloosa, AL$40,180
Columbia, SC$40,150
Springfield, OH$40,140
Asheville, NC$40,070
Bloomington, IN$40,040
Knoxville, TN$39,880
Shreveport, LA$39,880
Wilmington, NC$39,820
Roanoke, VA$39,820
Topeka, KS$39,740
Frankfort, KY$39,740
Oklahoma City, OK$39,710
Chillicothe, OH$39,690
Longview, TX$39,680
Melbourne, FL$39,680
Sioux Falls, SD$39,610
Mobile, AL$39,610
Terre Haute, IN$39,590
Altoona, PA$39,560
Amarillo, TX$39,530
Killeen, TX$39,520
Fayetteville, AR$39,480
Chattanooga, TN$39,470
Sioux City, IA$39,430
Idaho Falls, ID$39,420
Lynchburg, VA$39,390
Gainesville, FL$39,330
Portsmouth, OH$39,310
Little Rock, AR$39,300
Lafayette, LA$39,290
Youngstown, OH$39,290
Daytona Beach, FL$39,260
Clarksville, TN$39,250
Pensacola, FL$39,250
Temple, TX$39,250
Hopkinsville, KY$39,120
Erie, PA$39,110
Florence, SC$39,090
Charleston, WV$39,020
Great Falls, MT$39,000
Tallahassee, FL$38,940
Macon, GA$38,940
Fayetteville, NC$38,930
Waco, TX$38,920
Helena, MT$38,890
Pine Bluff, AR$38,870
Vincennes, IN$38,820
Lubbock, TX$38,800
Alamogordo, NM$38,780
Twin Falls, ID$38,740
Rapid City, SD$38,720
Jackson, MS$38,650
Huntington, WV$38,640
Greenville, MS$38,640
Parkersburg, WV$38,600
Montgomery, AL$38,590
Wichita Falls, TX$38,550
Springfield, MO$38,550
Biloxi, MS$38,520
Monroe, LA$38,480
Johnstown, PA$38,450
Sumter, SC$38,430
Columbus, GA$38,430
Pascagoula, MS$38,350
Abilene, TX$38,350
Kingsport, TN$38,230
Albany, GA$38,230
Gulfport, MS$38,220
Alexandria, LA$38,080
Fort Smith, AR$37,970
El Paso, TX$37,850
Las Cruces, NM$37,660
Harlingen, TX$37,540
Pocatello, ID$37,540
Florence, AL$37,480
Brownsville, TX$37,470
Mcallen, TX$37,380
Dothan, AL$37,320
Columbus, MS$37,060
Altus, OK$36,860
Lawton, OK$36,780
Pierre, SD$36,620
What Skills Can Increase a Chemical Production Operator I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Written Communication (Mentioned in 3.81% Job Postings): Communicating information through written media to educate, inform and influence the target audience.
Chemistry (Mentioned in 5.08% Job Postings): Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances of which matter is composed.
Work Ethic (Mentioned in 2.29% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Written Communication
3.81%
Chemistry
5.08%
Work Ethic
2.29%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chemical Production Operator I's salary.
Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 31%.
Computer Hardware: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Consulting
$56,946
31%
Computer Hardware
$50,860
17%
Flexibility
$50,425
16%
Safety Procedures
$49,121
13%
5S
$48,252
11%
Microsoft Office
$47,817
10%
Get Latest Data
Chemical Production Operator I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Chemical Production Operator I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $49,098.
While startup companies pay approximate $41,550.
Chemical Production Operator I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$41,550
Growth Stage
51~500
$43,938
Established
501~5000
$47,418
Enterprise
5000+
$49,098
Chemical Production Operator I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Chemical Production Operator I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Pharmaceuticals
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average.
In contrast, Chemical Production Operator positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Chemical Production Operator I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Chemical Production Operator I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$52,164
$25.0
20%
Pharmaceuticals
$52,164
$25.0
20%
Aerospace & Defense
$49,990
$24.0
15%
Biotechnology
$49,990
$24.0
15%
Internet
$49,990
$24.0
15%
Chemical Production Operator I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Chemical Production Operator I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$39,710
Average$43,470/year
$47,740
$3,309
Average$3,623/month
$3,978
$764
Average$836/week
$918
$19
Average$21/hour
$23
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$47,740
$3,978
$918
$23
Average
$43,470
$3,623
$836
$21
25th Percentile
$39,710
$3,309
$764
$19
Chemical Production Operator I Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Chemical Production Operator I, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Chemical Production Operator I Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role
Estimate Salary
Projected Raise
Chemical Process Equipment Operator
$53,800
24%
Mine Supervisor
$85,800
97%
Plant Operations Superintendent
$122,400
182%
Salaries of jobs related to Chemical Production Operator I
Salaries for a Chemical Production Operator I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $38,796 in 2023
to around $38,633 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Chemical Production Operator I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Chemical Production Operator I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$38,796
2024
$38,976
2025
$38,633
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$38,796
2024
$38,976
2025
$38,633
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Chemical Production Operator I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Chemical Production Operator I
Here are companies hiring for Chemical Production Operator I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Chemical Production Operator I
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Chemical Production Operator I?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemical Production Operator I roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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