What is the salary of a Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender?

The typical salary range is $39,963 - $79,926 per year.

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Supply Chain & ProductionStable

Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender

Operational-level

Also known as: Acetone Recovery Worker, Acetylene Plant Operator, Acid Bleacher, Acid Cleaner

Supply Chain & ProductionBachelor's Degree

Job Description

Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.

Chemical OperationsProcess ControlIndustrial ProcessingChemical ManufacturingEquipment OperationManufacturingProductionEngineering TechnologySkilled Trade

A Day in the Life

You arrive at the chemical plant in Wilmington, Delaware, before dawn. After swiping your badge, you head to the locker room to change into your steel-toed boots, hard hat, safety glasses, and hearing protection. The hum of machinery is already a constant drone. At the control room, you meet Maria, the operator from the night shift. She quickly briefs you on the status of the devulcanizers and the current batch in Reactor Vessel 3, highlighting a slight pressure fluctuation that she's been monitoring.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word SAP software

In-demand software

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookSAP software

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Projected growth

+3.6%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

13,900

per year (US)

Jobs today

140,800

in 2025 → 145,800 (2035)

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook.

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

High

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

High

Time spent sitting

Low

Working outdoors

Moderate

Indoor, climate-controlled

High

Dealing with customers

Low

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Stable Job Market

This career has a stable outlook and is expected to grow by about 3.6% through 2035, with around 13,900 job openings each year. The median annual wage is $58,040. Many operators can advance into roles like Production Supervisor or Quality Control Specialist, leveraging their hands-on experience.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Production Helper
Manufacturing Worker
Process Assistant

Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender

Where it can lead

Production Supervisor
Quality Control Specialist
Process Engineer

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will increasingly automate routine monitoring, data collection, and basic operational adjustments for chemical equipment, potentially reducing the need for constant manual tending. Operators will likely shift towards supervising AI-driven systems, interpreting predictive analytics for maintenance, and troubleshooting more complex issues. This necessitates developing new skills in data literacy, system management, and collaborating with advanced automation.

Salary

$58,040

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position