Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • St. Louis, MO-IL

Median annual salary $50,690 -31.1% vs national
Median hourly $24.37
10th percentile $47,170
90th percentile $60,260
Employed locally 210
National median $73,540

Compare Chemical Plant and System Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how St. Louis, MO-IL stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chemical Plant and System Operators
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,170
    25th
    $50,680
    50th (median)
    $50,690
    75th
    $56,590
    90th
    $60,260

    St. Louis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $78,225 2023 • Census ACS
    Chemical Plant and System Operators salary vs area income 65% Median Chemical Plant and System Operators salary is 35% 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
    Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $117,430
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $108,370
    Mobile, AL $88,730
    Richmond, VA $76,550
    Montana $65,190

    Related occupations in St. Louis, MO-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,790
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,210
    Machinists $60,850
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $51,530
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $44,780
    Production Workers, All Other $39,610

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chemical Plant and System Operators make per hour in St. Louis?

    The median hourly wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in St. Louis, MO-IL is $24.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $31.04 or more per hour.

    Is St. Louis above or below average for Chemical Plant and System Operators salaries?

    The median Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in St. Louis, MO-IL is 31.1% 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 St. Louis?

    Entry-level Chemical Plant and System Operators (10th percentile) earn around $47,170 per year in St. Louis, MO-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,680.