U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsOperate 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. Excludes "Chemical Plant and System Operators" (51-8091).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49,020 | 3.2 % | $22.33 | $46,440 | 0.8 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $13.39 | $16.84 | $21.90 | $27.66 | $32.82 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $27,850 | $35,030 | $45,550 | $57,520 | $68,270 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 14,280 | 10.01 | $23.81 | $49,530 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 8,070 | 3.03 | $21.03 | $43,740 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 6,270 | 7.15 | $24.69 | $51,360 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 3,420 | 4.05 | $19.76 | $41,110 |
| Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing | 2,670 | 2.66 | $18.84 | $39,190 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 14,280 | 10.01 | $23.81 | $49,530 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 6,270 | 7.15 | $24.69 | $51,360 |
| Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing | 1,590 | 4.48 | $22.20 | $46,180 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 3,420 | 4.05 | $19.76 | $41,110 |
| Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing | 2,060 | 3.67 | $20.36 | $42,360 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 100 | 0.04 | $25.98 | $54,040 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | (8) | (8) | $25.86 | $53,800 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 6,270 | 7.15 | $24.69 | $51,360 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 470 | 0.49 | $24.00 | $49,930 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 14,280 | 10.01 | $23.81 | $49,530 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 7,240 | 0.70 | 1.84 | $26.53 | $55,180 |
| Illinois | 4,050 | 0.73 | 1.90 | $23.01 | $47,860 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,580 | 0.65 | 1.69 | $19.53 | $40,610 |
| New Jersey | 3,270 | 0.87 | 2.27 | $21.98 | $45,730 |
| Ohio | 2,850 | 0.57 | 1.50 | $21.15 | $43,980 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 600 | 1.49 | 3.91 | $21.70 | $45,130 |
| Louisiana | 1,800 | 0.98 | 2.56 | $25.62 | $53,290 |
| West Virginia | 610 | 0.87 | 2.28 | $24.04 | $50,010 |
| New Jersey | 3,270 | 0.87 | 2.27 | $21.98 | $45,730 |
| Illinois | 4,050 | 0.73 | 1.90 | $23.01 | $47,860 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 80 | 0.30 | 0.79 | $31.61 | $65,750 |
| Texas | 7,240 | 0.70 | 1.84 | $26.53 | $55,180 |
| Louisiana | 1,800 | 0.98 | 2.56 | $25.62 | $53,290 |
| Connecticut | 420 | 0.26 | 0.68 | $25.22 | $52,450 |
| Alabama | 1,020 | 0.56 | 1.47 | $24.57 | $51,100 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 3,140 | 1.23 | 3.22 | $27.90 | $58,030 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 1,830 | 0.51 | 1.34 | $23.34 | $48,550 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 1,640 | 0.90 | 2.36 | $20.17 | $41,950 |
| Edison-New Brunswick, NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,170 | 1.22 | 3.19 | $21.36 | $44,420 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 990 | 6.37 | 16.66 | $28.75 | $59,800 |
| Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH | 970 | 0.99 | 2.60 | $20.30 | $42,230 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 930 | 0.18 | 0.48 | $19.77 | $41,110 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 880 | 2.47 | 6.48 | $26.66 | $55,450 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 880 | 0.43 | 1.13 | (8) | (8) |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 830 | 0.66 | 1.72 | $18.99 | $39,500 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 990 | 6.37 | 16.66 | $28.75 | $59,800 |
| Lima, OH | 170 | 3.45 | 9.02 | $26.41 | $54,940 |
| Decatur, AL | 160 | 3.04 | 7.96 | (8) | (8) |
| Mobile, AL | 460 | 2.69 | 7.04 | $24.16 | $50,260 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 220 | 2.58 | 6.74 | $23.53 | $48,950 |
| Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division | 790 | 2.47 | 6.47 | $27.21 | $56,590 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 880 | 2.47 | 6.48 | $26.66 | $55,450 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 260 | 2.30 | 6.03 | $20.02 | $41,640 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 280 | 1.62 | 4.24 | $26.76 | $55,660 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 150 | 1.50 | 3.93 | $15.74 | $32,730 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $36.92 | $76,780 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | (8) | (8) | (8) | $31.69 | $65,910 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 990 | 6.37 | 16.66 | $28.75 | $59,800 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 180 | 0.44 | 1.15 | $28.44 | $59,150 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 3,140 | 1.23 | 3.22 | $27.90 | $58,030 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 270 | 0.29 | 0.75 | $27.61 | $57,440 |
| Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division | 790 | 2.47 | 6.47 | $27.21 | $56,590 |
| New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA | 340 | 0.66 | 1.73 | $27.17 | $56,520 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 150 | 0.36 | 0.94 | $26.90 | $55,950 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 280 | 1.62 | 4.24 | $26.76 | $55,660 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 590 | 2.39 | 6.27 | $23.72 | $49,340 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 2.28 | 5.96 | $22.62 | $47,050 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 340 | 2.30 | 6.03 | $24.34 | $50,620 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 2.25 | 5.89 | $25.35 | $52,720 |
| Sussex County, Delaware nonmetropolitan area | 270 | 3.82 | 9.99 | $17.86 | $37,150 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County, Delaware nonmetropolitan area | 270 | 3.82 | 9.99 | $17.86 | $37,150 |
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 590 | 2.39 | 6.27 | $23.72 | $49,340 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 340 | 2.30 | 6.03 | $24.34 | $50,620 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 2.28 | 5.96 | $22.62 | $47,050 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 2.25 | 5.89 | $25.35 | $52,720 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.14 | 2.97 | $33.41 | $69,490 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 0.73 | 1.90 | $30.68 | $63,820 |
| Other North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.28 | 0.74 | $29.35 | $61,050 |
| New Iberia nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 1.01 | 2.65 | $27.54 | $57,290 |
| Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 1.21 | 3.17 | $26.16 | $54,420 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order
List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order
Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files
Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012
