What are the main factors that influence a Chemical Plant Operator III's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Chemical Plant Operator III?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemical Plant Operator III roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

How does experience change A Chemical Plant Operator 's salary?

A Chemical Plant Operator 's salary grows with experience: a Chemical Plant Operator I (0-1 years)earns $44,013, a Chemical Plant Operator II (1-3 years)earns $54,430, a Chemical Plant Operator III (3-5 years)earns $60,022, a Chemical Plant Operations Supervisor (5+ years)earns $91,299, a Chemical Plant Operations Manager (5+ years)earns $126,649,

What are the highest paying states for a Chemical Plant Operator III?

Chemical Plant Operator III salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Chemical Plant Operator III roles are District of Columbia $65,623, California $65,374, Massachusetts $64,502. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Chemical Plant Operator roles make?

Salaries for Chemical Plant Operator level roles vary by specialization: Chemical Plant Manager: $123,537; Chemical Engineer III: $114,421; Utility Plant Operator III: $91,140; Power Plant Operator III: $91,132; Refinery Plant Operator III: $85,190.

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary in Delaware

How much does a Chemical Plant Operator III make in Delaware?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chemical Plant Operator III in Delaware is $60,022 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Chemical Plant Operator III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,264
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,712 to $68,523
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,878

10% $49,878

50% (Median) $60,022

90% $76,264

Chemical Plant Operator III Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$68,523	$5,710	$1,318	$33
Average	$60,022	$5,002	$1,154	$29
25th Percentile	$54,712	$4,559	$1,052	$26

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Key Factors That Influence Chemical Plant Operator III Salaries

A Chemical Plant Operator III'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 Plant Operator III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chemical Plant Operator III'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 Plant Operator I (0-1 years): $44,013
Chemical Plant Operator II (1-3 years): $54,430
Chemical Plant Operator III (3-5 years): $60,022
Chemical Plant Operations Supervisor (5+ years): $91,299
Chemical Plant Operations Manager (5+ years): $126,649

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Chemical Plant Operator I	0-1 years	$44,013
Chemical Plant Operator II	1-3 years	$54,430
Chemical Plant Operator III	3-5 years	$60,022
Chemical Plant Operations Supervisor	5+ years	$91,299
Chemical Plant Operations Manager	5+ years	$126,649

View as Graph

How Do Chemical Plant Operator IIIs 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 Plant Operator IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $65,623.
California: $65,374.
Massachusetts: $64,502.

District of Columbia $65,623 California $65,374 Massachusetts $64,502 Washington $64,265 New Jersey $64,242 Alaska $64,159 Connecticut $63,341 New York $63,009

Hawaii $61,948 Rhode Island $61,450 Maryland $61,112 Minnesota $60,650 Colorado $60,472 Illinois $60,413 Oregon $60,188 Delaware $60,022

New Hampshire $59,917 Virginia $59,684 Pennsylvania $59,002 Nevada $58,659 North Dakota $58,546 Michigan $58,368 Wisconsin $58,303 Vermont $58,173

Texas $57,811 Maine $57,787 Arizona $57,752 Ohio $57,710 Georgia $57,165 Indiana $56,892 Wyoming $56,839 Utah $56,756

Iowa $56,720 Kansas $56,436 Louisiana $56,353 North Carolina $56,323 Missouri $56,311 Florida $56,080 Montana $55,956 Nebraska $55,837

Kentucky $55,772 South Carolina $55,535 Tennessee $55,387 Idaho $55,328 New Mexico $54,895 Oklahoma $54,800 Alabama $54,450 South Dakota $53,864

Arkansas $53,544 West Virginia $53,372 Mississippi $52,856

Top Paying Cities for Chemical Plant Operator III

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:

Lincoln: $59,751
Little Creek: $60,189
Magnolia: $60,102

Lincoln, DE $59,751 Little Creek, DE $60,189 Magnolia, DE $60,102 Milford, DE $59,903 Marydel, DE $60,002 Millsboro, DE $59,501 Millville, DE $59,593 Milton, DE $59,696

Nassau, DE $59,739 Ocean View, DE $59,583 Rehoboth Beach, DE $59,697 Seaford, DE $59,731 Selbyville, DE $59,484 Smyrna, DE $60,230 Viola, DE $59,953 Woodside, DE $60,114

Bear, DE $59,975 Newark, DE $59,953 Claymont, DE $60,076 Delaware City, DE $60,013 Hockessin, DE $59,948 Kirkwood, DE $60,002 Middletown, DE $60,025 Montchanin, DE $59,961

New Castle, DE $59,970 Odessa, DE $60,054 Port Penn, DE $60,095 Rockland, DE $59,967 Saint Georges, DE $60,006 Townsend, DE $60,098 Winterthur, DE $59,974 Lewes, DE $59,719

Wilmington, DE $59,951 Dover, DE $60,189 Dover Afb, DE $59,872 Bethany Beach, DE $59,520 Bethel, DE $59,581 Bridgeville, DE $59,722 Camden Wyoming, DE $60,019 Cheswold, DE $60,169

Clayton, DE $60,171 Dagsboro, DE $59,478 Delmar, DE $59,383 Ellendale, DE $59,563 Felton, DE $59,898 Fenwick Island, DE $59,491 Frankford, DE $59,388 Frederica, DE $59,958

Georgetown, DE $59,456 Greenwood, DE $59,731 Harbeson, DE $59,519 Harrington, DE $59,823 Hartly, DE $60,009 Houston, DE $59,737 Kenton, DE $60,174 Laurel, DE $59,420

Yorklyn, DE $59,965

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chemical Plant Operator III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $67,792. While startup companies pay approximate $57,370.

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$57,370
Growth Stage	51~500	$60,667
Established	501~5000	$65,473
Enterprise	5000+	$67,792

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chemical Plant Operator III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Chemical Plant Operator positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chemical Plant Operator III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chemical Plant Operator III

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology	$68,159	$33.0	15%
Pharmaceuticals	$68,159	$33.0	15%
Internet	$65,196	$31.0	10%
Software & Networking	$65,196	$31.0	10%
Aerospace & Defense	$62,232	$30.0	5%

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chemical Plant Operator III'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.

$54,712

Average $60,022/year

$68,523

$4,559

Average $5,002/month

$5,710

$1,052

Average $1,154/week

$1,318

$26

Average $29/hour

$33

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$68,523	$5,710	$1,318	$33
Average	$60,022	$5,002	$1,154	$29
25th Percentile	$54,712	$4,559	$1,052	$26

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary Growth & Career Path

Chemical Plant Operator III

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Chemical Plant Operator III, 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 Plant Operator III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Chemical Plant Operations Supervisor	$91,299	52%
Mine Foreman	$86,879	45%
Plant Superintendent	$123,918	106%

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Chemical Plant Operator III Salary in Delaware

How much does a Chemical Plant Operator III make in Delaware?

Key Factors That Influence Chemical Plant Operator III Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Chemical Plant Operator III Salaries?

How Do Chemical Plant Operator IIIs Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Chemical Plant Operator III

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Company Size

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Chemical Plant Operator III

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary Growth & Career Path

Find Your Next Chemical Plant Operator III Job

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For Employers

Cost of Living In Delaware

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary in Delaware

How much does a Chemical Plant Operator III make in Delaware?

Key Factors That Influence Chemical Plant Operator III Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Chemical Plant Operator III Salaries?

How Do Chemical Plant Operator IIIs Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Chemical Plant Operator III

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Company Size

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Chemical Plant Operator III

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Chemical Plant Operator III Salary Growth & Career Path

Salaries of Jobs related to Chemical Plant Operator IIIs

Find Your Next Chemical Plant Operator III Job

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Cost of Living In Delaware

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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