How much does a Chemical Plant Operator I make in the United States? The average Chemical Plant Operator I salary in the United States is $48,919 as of March 26, 2024, but the range typically falls between $42,688 and $56,299. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target. 

Chemical Plant Operator I Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chemical Plant Operator I Salary $37,015 US March 26, 2024
25th Percentile Chemical Plant Operator I Salary $42,688 US March 26, 2024
50th Percentile Chemical Plant Operator I Salary $48,919 US March 26, 2024
75th Percentile Chemical Plant Operator I Salary $56,299 US March 26, 2024
90th Percentile Chemical Plant Operator I Salary $63,018 US March 26, 2024
25% $42,688 10% $37,015 90% $63,018 75% $56,299 $48,919 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What skills does a Chemical Plant Operator I need?

Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.

Written Communication: Communicating information through written media to educate, inform and influence the target audience.

2.

Microsoft Excel: Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.

3.

Work Ethic: 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.

Written Communication 3.66%
Microsoft Excel 3.1%
Work Ethic 2.19%
Others 91.05%

Job Description for Chemical Plant Operator I

Chemical Plant Operator I controls equipment and systems that process chemical substances and materials into products. Operates equipment and monitors the production process to ensure efficient and safe output. Being a Chemical Plant Operator I follows standard operating procedures and performs in process quality checks to identify and resolve issues during processing. Troubleshoots problems with equipment, respond to system notifications and makes required adjustments as needed. Additionally, Chemical Plant Operator I enters required production data and information into logs. May unload or move materials. Follows all procedures for safe material handling and required safety gear. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or team leader. The Chemical Plant Operator I works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience. (Copyright 2024 Salary.com)... View full job description

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Job Openings for Chemical Plant Operator I

Career Path for Chemical Plant Operator I

A career path is a sequence of jobs that leads to your short- and long-term career goals. Some follow a linear career path within one field, while others change fields periodically to achieve career or personal goals.

For Chemical Plant Operator I, the first career path typically starts with a Chemical Plant Operator II position, and then progresses to Chemical Plant Operations Supervisor.

Additionally, the second career path typically progresses to Mine Foreman.

Those that have already made the climb...
George Avgerinos Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Biologics Operation
Fortress Biotech, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, develops and commercializes pharmaceutical and biotechnology products. The company markets dermatology products, such as Ximino an oral minocycline drug for the treatment of moderate to severe acne; Targadox an oral doxycycline drug for adjunctive therapy for severe ... More
Fiscal Year Ended in 2022
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Chemical Plant Operator I salary varies from city to city. Compared with national average salary of Chemical Plant Operator I, the highest Chemical Plant Operator I salary is in San Francisco, CA, where the Chemical Plant Operator I salary is 25.0% above. The lowest Chemical Plant Operator I salary is in Miami, FL, where the Chemical Plant Operator I salary is 3.5% lower than national average salary.

City, State Compared to national average
City, State San Francisco, CA Compared to national average
+ 25.0%
City, State Washington, DC Compared to national average
+ 11.3%
City, State Miami, FL Compared to national average
-3.5%
City, State Chicago, IL Compared to national average
+ 4.9%
City, State Boston, MA Compared to national average
+ 12.1%
City, State New York, NY Compared to national average
+ 16.8%
City, State Dallas, TX Compared to national average
-1.3%

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Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Chemical Plant Operator I, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
42688
56299
48919

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
43184
57960
49507
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Chemical Plant Operator I in the United States. The base salary for Chemical Plant Operator I ranges from $42,688 to $56,299 with the average base salary of $48,919. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $43,184 to $57,960 with the average total cash compensation of $49,507.
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42688
56299

 

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Skills associated with Chemical Plant Operator I: Material Handling, Quality Inspection, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Instrument Control ...More

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Chemical Plant Operator I Salary in United States
Chemical Plant Operator I Salary Graph, Regional Distribution and Summary