Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Production · SOC 51-9011 · O*NET 51-9011.00
Operate 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.
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders earn a median salary of $57,090 per year, ranking in the top 54% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.3% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do chemical equipment operators and tenders earn?
The median annual wage for chemical equipment operators and tenders is $57,090. That puts chemical equipment operators and tenders at #435 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $37,270 |
| 25th percentile | $45,660 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,090 |
| 75th percentile | $71,400 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,460 |
| Median hourly wage | $27.45/hr |
Is chemical equipment operators and tenders a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for chemical equipment operators and tenders is +3.3%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 128K positions in 2024 to 133K in 2034, a net change of 5K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do chemical equipment operators and tenders do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working chemical equipment operators and tenders, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
- 2.Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing.
- 3.Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
- 4.Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
- 5.Dump or scoop prescribed solid, granular, or powdered materials into equipment.
- 6.Notify maintenance engineers of equipment malfunctions.
- 7.Add treating or neutralizing agents to products, and pump products through filters or centrifuges to remove impurities or to precipitate products.
- 8.Observe and compare colors and consistencies of products to instrument readings and to laboratory and standard test results.
Top skills for chemical equipment operators and tenders
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become chemical equipment operators and tender?
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about chemical equipment operators and tenders
What is the median salary for chemical equipment operators and tenders?
The median annual salary for chemical equipment operators and tenders is $57,090 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is chemical equipment operators and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects +3.3% growth for chemical equipment operators and tenders from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become chemical equipment operators and tender?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to chemical equipment operators and tenders?
Related occupations within the Production category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.