Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $67,500 -8.2% vs national
Median hourly $32.45
10th percentile $52,000
90th percentile $80,980
Employed locally 210
National median $73,540

Compare Chemical Plant and System Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chemical Plant and System Operators
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $52,000
    25th
    $58,340
    50th (median)
    $67,500
    75th
    $74,170
    90th
    $80,980

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Chemical Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 76% Median Chemical Plant and System Operators salary is 24% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chemical Plant and System Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $117,430
    North Dakota $112,970
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $108,370
    Wyoming $104,420
    Lake Charles, LA $102,310
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $101,150

    Nearby metros — Chemical Plant and System Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Mobile, AL $88,730
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $87,210
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $79,400
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $67,450
    Illinois $66,580
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $60,430

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$40,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,760
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$42,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,330
    Machinists$57,470
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$39,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chemical Plant and System Operators make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Chicago, IL-IN is $32.45, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.24 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Chemical Plant and System Operators salaries?

    The median Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 8.2% below the national median of $73,540. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Chicago?

    Entry-level Chemical Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $52,000 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $58,340.