Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

SOC 51-9011 · No. 23 of the 30 largest occupations in U.S. manufacturing · Production · Annual wages, May 2025.

01National

What the occupation pays

134,210 people work in this occupation in U.S. manufacturing. Their median wage is 0.7% above the median for the occupation across all industries (our calculation).

In manufacturing

$58,420

Median annual wage; $28.09 an hour

10th percentile: $37,700
25th percentile: $46,130
Median: $58,420
75th percentile: $74,310
90th percentile: $92,840
Employment: 134,210

All industries

$58,040

Median annual wage; $27.90 an hour

10th percentile: $37,440
25th percentile: $45,970
Median: $58,040
75th percentile: $74,080
90th percentile: $92,250
Employment: 139,630

Our calculation from BLS figures; formulas are under “About this data.” All other values are published by BLS.

02By state

Wages in every state

Official median wages and pay ranges for this occupation across all employers in each state, compared with the U.S., plus BLS's experimental manufacturing-only median where available. State names link to their manufacturing profiles.

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51 states and DC

United StatesReferenceMedian wage$58,040
AlabamaALMedian wage$80,330vs. U.S. (our calculation)+38.4%Employment3,280Mfg. medianExperimental$80,330
AlaskaAKMedian wageNo BLS estimatevs. U.S. (our calculation)—EmploymentNo BLS estimateMfg. medianExperimentalNo BLS estimate
ArizonaAZMedian wage$45,790vs. U.S. (our calculation)−21.1%Employment1,330Mfg. medianExperimental$46,460
ArkansasARMedian wage$64,440vs. U.S. (our calculation)+11.0%Employment1,160Mfg. medianExperimental$64,440
CaliforniaCAMedian wage$58,300vs. U.S. (our calculation)+0.4%Employment5,670Mfg. medianExperimental$58,280
ColoradoCOMedian wage$50,370vs. U.S. (our calculation)−13.2%Employment910Mfg. medianExperimental$50,130
ConnecticutCTMedian wage$58,490vs. U.S. (our calculation)+0.8%Employment860Mfg. medianExperimental$58,070
DelawareDEMedian wage$63,200vs. U.S. (our calculation)+8.9%Employment1,160Mfg. medianExperimental$62,400
District of ColumbiaDCMedian wageNo BLS estimatevs. U.S. (our calculation)—EmploymentNo BLS estimateMfg. medianExperimentalNo BLS estimate
FloridaFLMedian wage$44,360vs. U.S. (our calculation)−23.6%Employment4,270Mfg. medianExperimental$44,700
GeorgiaGAMedian wage$49,660vs. U.S. (our calculation)−14.4%Employment4,330Mfg. medianExperimental$49,660
HawaiiHIMedian wage$47,840vs. U.S. (our calculation)−17.6%Employment30Mfg. medianExperimental$47,840
IdahoIDMedian wage$77,100vs. U.S. (our calculation)+32.8%Employment550Mfg. medianExperimental$77,100
IllinoisILMedian wage$61,940vs. U.S. (our calculation)+6.7%Employment5,580Mfg. medianExperimental$62,170
IndianaINMedian wage$56,800vs. U.S. (our calculation)−2.1%Employment6,240Mfg. medianExperimental$57,430
IowaIAMedian wage$57,550vs. U.S. (our calculation)−0.8%Employment2,010Mfg. medianExperimental$57,620
KansasKSMedian wage$54,890vs. U.S. (our calculation)−5.4%Employment1,920Mfg. medianExperimental$53,600
KentuckyKYMedian wage$57,530vs. U.S. (our calculation)−0.9%Employment3,590Mfg. medianExperimental$57,530
LouisianaLAMedian wage$78,580vs. U.S. (our calculation)+35.4%Employment6,430Mfg. medianExperimental$78,760
MaineMEMedian wage$57,240vs. U.S. (our calculation)−1.4%Employment250Mfg. medianExperimental$57,240
MarylandMDMedian wage$59,850vs. U.S. (our calculation)+3.1%Employment1,220Mfg. medianExperimental$59,840
MassachusettsMAMedian wage$56,920vs. U.S. (our calculation)−1.9%Employment2,860Mfg. medianExperimental$57,020
MichiganMIMedian wage$50,060vs. U.S. (our calculation)−13.7%Employment5,210Mfg. medianExperimental$50,140
MinnesotaMNMedian wage$53,340vs. U.S. (our calculation)−8.1%Employment1,170Mfg. medianExperimental$53,340
MississippiMSMedian wage$64,360vs. U.S. (our calculation)+10.9%Employment990Mfg. medianExperimental$64,360
MissouriMOMedian wage$50,640vs. U.S. (our calculation)−12.7%Employment2,790Mfg. medianExperimental$50,720
MontanaMTMedian wage$79,570vs. U.S. (our calculation)+37.1%Employment40Mfg. medianExperimental$79,940
NebraskaNEMedian wage$59,750vs. U.S. (our calculation)+2.9%Employment1,020Mfg. medianExperimental$59,400
NevadaNVMedian wage$58,520vs. U.S. (our calculation)+0.8%Employment210Mfg. medianExperimental$48,610
New HampshireNHMedian wage$49,440vs. U.S. (our calculation)−14.8%Employment350Mfg. medianExperimentalNot available
New JerseyNJMedian wage$56,500vs. U.S. (our calculation)−2.7%Employment8,560Mfg. medianExperimental$57,620
New MexicoNMMedian wage$60,910vs. U.S. (our calculation)+4.9%Employment170Mfg. medianExperimental$63,030
New YorkNYMedian wage$49,640vs. U.S. (our calculation)−14.5%Employment4,270Mfg. medianExperimental$49,320
North CarolinaNCMedian wage$49,650vs. U.S. (our calculation)−14.5%Employment5,260Mfg. medianExperimental$49,650
North DakotaNDMedian wageNo BLS estimatevs. U.S. (our calculation)—EmploymentNo BLS estimateMfg. medianExperimentalNo BLS estimate
OhioOHMedian wage$60,550vs. U.S. (our calculation)+4.3%Employment7,830Mfg. medianExperimental$60,650
OklahomaOKMedian wage$50,160vs. U.S. (our calculation)−13.6%Employment790Mfg. medianExperimental$54,200
OregonORMedian wage$56,510vs. U.S. (our calculation)−2.6%Employment950Mfg. medianExperimental$56,830
PennsylvaniaPAMedian wage$56,630vs. U.S. (our calculation)−2.4%Employment6,230Mfg. medianExperimental$56,730
Rhode IslandRIMedian wage$69,630vs. U.S. (our calculation)+20.0%Employment430Mfg. medianExperimental$69,630
South CarolinaSCMedian wage$56,240vs. U.S. (our calculation)−3.1%Employment4,040Mfg. medianExperimental$56,350
South DakotaSDMedian wage$48,830vs. U.S. (our calculation)−15.9%Employment230Mfg. medianExperimental$48,830
TennesseeTNMedian wage$60,960vs. U.S. (our calculation)+5.0%Employment3,860Mfg. medianExperimental$60,960
TexasTXMedian wage$60,150vs. U.S. (our calculation)+3.6%Employment20,880Mfg. medianExperimental$60,170
UtahUTMedian wage$39,020vs. U.S. (our calculation)−32.8%Employment2,610Mfg. medianExperimental$46,610
VermontVTMedian wageNo BLS estimatevs. U.S. (our calculation)—EmploymentNo BLS estimateMfg. medianExperimentalNo BLS estimate
VirginiaVAMedian wage$59,970vs. U.S. (our calculation)+3.3%Employment2,040Mfg. medianExperimental$60,410
WashingtonWAMedian wage$67,300vs. U.S. (our calculation)+16.0%Employment1,720Mfg. medianExperimental$67,300
West VirginiaWVMedian wage$66,060vs. U.S. (our calculation)+13.8%Employment1,190Mfg. medianExperimental$66,100
WisconsinWIMedian wage$50,870vs. U.S. (our calculation)−12.4%Employment2,730Mfg. medianExperimental$51,300
WyomingWYMedian wage$101,590vs. U.S. (our calculation)+75.0%Employment290Mfg. medianExperimental$101,590

Annual wages by state, May 2025
State	Employment	Median wage	vs. U.S. (our calculation)	10th–90th percentile	Mfg. medianExperimental
United StatesReference	139,630	$58,040	—	—	—
AlabamaAL	3,280	$80,330	+38.4%	$38,430–$94,120	$80,330
AlaskaAK	No BLS estimate	No BLS estimate	—	—	No BLS estimate
ArizonaAZ	1,330	$45,790	−21.1%	$34,840–$75,300	$46,460
ArkansasAR	1,160	$64,440	+11.0%	$41,800–$87,560	$64,440
CaliforniaCA	5,670	$58,300	+0.4%	$42,160–$80,620	$58,280
ColoradoCO	910	$50,370	−13.2%	$42,630–$73,620	$50,130
ConnecticutCT	860	$58,490	+0.8%	$36,920–$77,830	$58,070
DelawareDE	1,160	$63,200	+8.9%	$50,460–$82,100	$62,400
District of ColumbiaDC	No BLS estimate	No BLS estimate	—	—	No BLS estimate
FloridaFL	4,270	$44,360	−23.6%	$30,250–$69,720	$44,700
GeorgiaGA	4,330	$49,660	−14.4%	$35,700–$71,000	$49,660
HawaiiHI	30	$47,840	−17.6%	$39,000–$58,080	$47,840
IdahoID	550	$77,100	+32.8%	$46,100–$84,930	$77,100
IllinoisIL	5,580	$61,940	+6.7%	$39,210–$91,600	$62,170
IndianaIN	6,240	$56,800	−2.1%	$37,680–$75,550	$57,430
IowaIA	2,010	$57,550	−0.8%	$46,330–$82,120	$57,620
KansasKS	1,920	$54,890	−5.4%	$35,800–$76,260	$53,600
KentuckyKY	3,590	$57,530	−0.9%	$39,470–$91,430	$57,530
LouisianaLA	6,430	$78,580	+35.4%	$47,480–$111,210	$78,760
MaineME	250	$57,240	−1.4%	$41,450–$67,780	$57,240
MarylandMD	1,220	$59,850	+3.1%	$39,650–$78,770	$59,840
MassachusettsMA	2,860	$56,920	−1.9%	$41,560–$77,700	$57,020
MichiganMI	5,210	$50,060	−13.7%	$38,430–$80,470	$50,140
MinnesotaMN	1,170	$53,340	−8.1%	$40,210–$74,290	$53,340
MississippiMS	990	$64,360	+10.9%	$26,240–$85,520	$64,360
MissouriMO	2,790	$50,640	−12.7%	$36,370–$76,120	$50,720
MontanaMT	40	$79,570	+37.1%	$48,820–$107,540	$79,940
NebraskaNE	1,020	$59,750	+2.9%	$41,630–$76,650	$59,400
NevadaNV	210	$58,520	+0.8%	$44,840–$77,290	$48,610
New HampshireNH	350	$49,440	−14.8%	$49,440–$58,880	Not available
New JerseyNJ	8,560	$56,500	−2.7%	$35,980–$79,780	$57,620
New MexicoNM	170	$60,910	+4.9%	$35,360–$105,800	$63,030
New YorkNY	4,270	$49,640	−14.5%	$38,280–$78,350	$49,320
North CarolinaNC	5,260	$49,650	−14.5%	$38,500–$72,220	$49,650
North DakotaND	No BLS estimate	No BLS estimate	—	—	No BLS estimate
OhioOH	7,830	$60,550	+4.3%	$45,450–$81,840	$60,650
OklahomaOK	790	$50,160	−13.6%	$37,340–$81,820	$54,200
OregonOR	950	$56,510	−2.6%	$43,460–$81,190	$56,830
PennsylvaniaPA	6,230	$56,630	−2.4%	$38,710–$81,840	$56,730
Rhode IslandRI	430	$69,630	+20.0%	$37,200–$100,240	$69,630
South CarolinaSC	4,040	$56,240	−3.1%	$37,700–$72,590	$56,350
South DakotaSD	230	$48,830	−15.9%	$46,400–$58,320	$48,830
TennesseeTN	3,860	$60,960	+5.0%	$36,010–$74,310	$60,960
TexasTX	20,880	$60,150	+3.6%	$36,230–$106,230	$60,170
UtahUT	2,610	$39,020	−32.8%	$34,770–$62,300	$46,610
VermontVT	No BLS estimate	No BLS estimate	—	—	No BLS estimate
VirginiaVA	2,040	$59,970	+3.3%	$41,990–$76,910	$60,410
WashingtonWA	1,720	$67,300	+16.0%	$46,420–$97,130	$67,300
West VirginiaWV	1,190	$66,060	+13.8%	$44,000–$93,130	$66,100
WisconsinWI	2,730	$50,870	−12.4%	$41,390–$65,650	$51,300
WyomingWY	290	$101,590	+75.0%	$48,470–$101,590	$101,590

03About this data

Source, definitions, and limits

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Period: May 2025 estimates (released May 15, 2026)
Official: U.S. by industry; U.S. all industries; states, all industries
Experimental: States × manufacturing, BLS research estimates
Citation: Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

What these wages are

Straight-time gross pay: base pay, commissions, and production bonuses, excluding overtime, shift differentials, and benefits. Annual figures are hourly wages × 2,080 hours.
The median is the midpoint of workers' wages; the 10th–90th percentile range shows where most workers fall. These describe all workers in the occupation, not any employer's pay scale.
Where a state has few workers in an occupation, its estimates are less precise and can differ sharply from the U.S. figure.
Not comparable to the average annual pay on state profiles, which comes from a different BLS program (QCEW) and includes all reported wages.

Official and experimental figures

BLS does not publish official manufacturing-only wages by state. State medians are for the occupation across all employers in the state.
Figures marked Experimental are BLS research estimates for manufacturing only. BLS provides them for research purposes, with higher model error and fewer published values; treat them as indicative.
Not available: BLS did not release the estimate. No BLS estimate: BLS published nothing for that state and occupation. Neither is ever shown as zero.
vs. U.S. = state median ÷ U.S. median − 1, both official all-industry figures. Mfg. vs. all = U.S. manufacturing median ÷ U.S. all-industry median − 1.

Read our methodology