U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsControl or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38,170 | 3.7 % | $26.03 | $54,150 | 1.1 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $15.86 | $20.26 | $26.15 | $32.27 | $36.24 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $33,000 | $42,150 | $54,390 | $67,110 | $75,380 |
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 | 15,950 | 11.13 | $26.62 | $55,360 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 7,620 | 8.34 | $26.58 | $55,280 |
| Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing | 5,830 | 16.16 | $24.58 | $51,120 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 2,610 | 0.97 | $23.21 | $48,270 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 1,940 | 2.30 | $30.20 | $62,810 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing | 5,830 | 16.16 | $24.58 | $51,120 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 15,950 | 11.13 | $26.62 | $55,360 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 7,620 | 8.34 | $26.58 | $55,280 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 1,940 | 2.30 | $30.20 | $62,810 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,270 | 1.14 | $24.77 | $51,520 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 1,940 | 2.30 | $30.20 | $62,810 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 190 | 0.03 | $27.51 | $57,220 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 690 | 0.64 | $26.89 | $55,940 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 15,950 | 11.13 | $26.62 | $55,360 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 7,620 | 8.34 | $26.58 | $55,280 |
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 | 6,820 | 0.64 | 2.20 | $32.69 | $68,000 |
| Louisiana | 3,750 | 2.01 | 6.86 | $28.79 | $59,880 |
| South Carolina | 2,240 | 1.25 | 4.25 | $21.44 | $44,600 |
| Ohio | 2,030 | 0.40 | 1.37 | $21.95 | $45,650 |
| Illinois | 1,780 | 0.31 | 1.07 | $25.57 | $53,190 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 3,750 | 2.01 | 6.86 | $28.79 | $59,880 |
| South Carolina | 2,240 | 1.25 | 4.25 | $21.44 | $44,600 |
| Alabama | 1,310 | 0.72 | 2.45 | $24.95 | $51,890 |
| West Virginia | 500 | 0.71 | 2.42 | $27.18 | $56,530 |
| Wyoming | 200 | 0.70 | 2.40 | $31.10 | $64,690 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 6,820 | 0.64 | 2.20 | $32.69 | $68,000 |
| Wyoming | 200 | 0.70 | 2.40 | $31.10 | $64,690 |
| Montana | 210 | 0.49 | 1.68 | $29.57 | $61,500 |
| Utah | (8) | (8) | (8) | $29.38 | $61,100 |
| Delaware | 110 | 0.27 | 0.91 | $29.37 | $61,090 |
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 | 4,490 | 1.70 | 5.80 | $32.94 | $68,510 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 2,310 | 6.40 | 21.83 | $32.22 | $67,020 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 780 | 0.21 | 0.73 | $24.25 | $50,430 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 730 | 8.30 | 28.32 | $21.69 | $45,110 |
| Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH | 670 | 9.86 | 33.64 | $27.82 | $57,870 |
| Victoria, TX | 620 | 12.45 | 42.51 | $31.60 | $65,730 |
| Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN | 550 | 0.56 | 1.90 | $24.35 | $50,650 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 540 | 0.48 | 1.64 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 490 | 0.27 | 0.92 | $22.14 | $46,060 |
| Columbia, SC | 460 | 1.35 | 4.60 | $18.75 | $38,990 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria, TX | 620 | 12.45 | 42.51 | $31.60 | $65,730 |
| Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH | 670 | 9.86 | 33.64 | $27.82 | $57,870 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 730 | 8.30 | 28.32 | $21.69 | $45,110 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 2,310 | 6.40 | 21.83 | $32.22 | $67,020 |
| Cleveland, TN | 230 | 6.27 | 21.40 | $27.77 | $57,770 |
| Decatur, AL | 190 | 3.67 | 12.52 | $25.36 | $52,740 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 370 | 1.84 | 6.27 | $28.97 | $60,260 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 200 | 1.77 | 6.03 | $21.82 | $45,390 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 4,490 | 1.70 | 5.80 | $32.94 | $68,510 |
| Columbia, SC | 460 | 1.35 | 4.60 | $18.75 | $38,990 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 4,490 | 1.70 | 5.80 | $32.94 | $68,510 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $32.31 | $67,210 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 2,310 | 6.40 | 21.83 | $32.22 | $67,020 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | (8) | (8) | (8) | $32.04 | $66,640 |
| Victoria, TX | 620 | 12.45 | 42.51 | $31.60 | $65,730 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 30 | 0.04 | 0.13 | $30.16 | $62,730 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 370 | 1.84 | 6.27 | $28.97 | $60,260 |
| New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA | 210 | 0.41 | 1.40 | $28.71 | $59,710 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $28.66 | $59,610 |
| Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH | 670 | 9.86 | 33.64 | $27.82 | $57,870 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 680 | 2.38 | 8.11 | $22.79 | $47,410 |
| Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 560 | 4.52 | 15.42 | $26.68 | $55,500 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 2.10 | 7.18 | $27.73 | $57,690 |
| Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 2.14 | 7.29 | $17.19 | $35,760 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.52 | 5.18 | $29.66 | $61,690 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 560 | 4.52 | 15.42 | $26.68 | $55,500 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 680 | 2.38 | 8.11 | $22.79 | $47,410 |
| Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 2.14 | 7.29 | $17.19 | $35,760 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 2.10 | 7.18 | $27.73 | $57,690 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.52 | 5.18 | $29.66 | $61,690 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.52 | 5.18 | $29.66 | $61,690 |
| Northwestern Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.27 | 0.94 | $28.77 | $59,830 |
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.42 | 1.42 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 2.10 | 7.18 | $27.73 | $57,690 |
| North Central West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.38 | 1.29 | $26.73 | $55,600 |
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 2012 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2013
