Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in KY
In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Chemical Plant and System Operators in KY have a median annual salary of $97,550, with 40 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $72,820 at the 10th percentile to $135,500 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
$97,550
Data year: 2025
Hourly median
$46.90
Employment
40
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS
Salary distribution
$72,820
10th
$80,530
25th
$97,550
Median
$112,920
75th
$135,500
90th
Local compared with national
KY
$97,550
Median annual · 2025
United States
$78,120
Median annual · 2025
The KY median is 24.9% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $19,430).
Top skills
- 1.Operations MonitoringImportance 4.3
- 2.Operation and ControlImportance 4.0
- 3.MonitoringImportance 3.8
- 4.Quality Control AnalysisImportance 3.8
- 5.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.6
- 6.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.1
- 7.Active ListeningImportance 3.1
- 8.SpeakingImportance 3.1
- 9.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.1
- 10.Time ManagementImportance 3.1
- 11.WritingImportance 3.0
- 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.
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
- Chemists
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Chemical Technicians
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Chemical Engineers
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in other locations
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in FLMedian $128,830
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in Beaumont, TXMedian $117,430
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $111,900
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in WYMedian $107,810
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in Houston, TXMedian $106,020
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in Baton Rouge, LAMedian $104,410
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in TXMedian $102,750
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in Lake Charles, LAMedian $102,310
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in LAMedian $100,060
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in Mobile, ALMedian $96,210
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in MDMedian $95,150
- Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in New Orleans, LAMedian $92,260
Other occupations in KY
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- Physicians, All Other Salary in KYMedian $327,390
- Urologists Salary in KYMedian $327,390
- Hospitalists Salary in KYMedian $327,390
- Preventive Medicine Physicians Salary in KYMedian $327,390
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians Salary in KYMedian $327,390
- Sports Medicine Physicians Salary in KYMedian $327,390
- Allergists and Immunologists Salary in KYMedian $327,390
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in KYMedian $324,390