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Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in CO

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Chemical Plant and System Operators in CO have a median annual salary of $62,870, with 400 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $54,340 at the 10th percentile to $81,550 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$62,870

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$30.23

Employment

400

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$54,340
10th
$59,560
25th
$62,870
Median
$75,680
75th
$81,550
90th

Local compared with national

CO

$62,870

Median annual · 2025

United States

$78,120

Median annual · 2025

The CO median is 19.5% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $15,250).

Top skills

  1. 1.Operations MonitoringImportance 4.3
  2. 2.Operation and ControlImportance 4.0
  3. 3.MonitoringImportance 3.8
  4. 4.Quality Control AnalysisImportance 3.8
  5. 5.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.6
  6. 6.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.1
  7. 7.Active ListeningImportance 3.1
  8. 8.SpeakingImportance 3.1
  9. 9.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.1
  10. 10.Time ManagementImportance 3.1
  11. 11.WritingImportance 3.0
  12. 12.Active LearningImportance 3.0

Career information

Education and experience

Experience
None
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • Alarm management system software
  • Coordinated incident management system CIMS software
  • Distributed control system DCS
  • Interlock shutdown systems
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word

Common tasks

  • Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
  • Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
  • Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
  • Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
  • Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
  • Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
  • Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
  • Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases or vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, or perfume to towers, or to add products to converter or blending vessels.
  • Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, or product quality.
  • Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in other locations

Other occupations in CO