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Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in NC

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Chemical Plant and System Operators in NC have a median annual salary of $62,920, with 660 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $50,790 at the 10th percentile to $78,580 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

$62,920

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$30.25

Employment

660

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$50,790
10th
$51,880
25th
$62,920
Median
$66,370
75th
$78,580
90th

Local compared with national

NC

$62,920

Median annual · 2025

United States

$78,120

Median annual · 2025

The NC median is 19.5% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $15,200).

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 NC