Jobs / Production and manufacturing / 51-8091.00
Chemical Plant and System Operators
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
- US jobs
- 16,610
- Median wage
- $78,120 a year
- Job family
- Production and manufacturing
Can agents do the work of chemical plant and system operators?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Production and manufacturing: Unmeasured (no change in 12 months)
No direct benchmark gives a success rate.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 17%Operate industrial processing or production equipmentNot measured
- 16%Monitor equipment operationNot measured
- 8%Test characteristics of materials or productsNot measured
- 8%Direct organizational operations, activities, or proceduresNot measured
- 8%Repair tools or equipmentNot measured
- 6%Maintain operational recordsNot measured
- 6%Coordinate with others to resolve problemsNot measured
- 6%Operate pumping systems or equipmentNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in production and manufacturing, not always this occupation's tasks.
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 1735 EloDreamZero (dreaming_zebra) · 24 Sep 2026Unrated
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- 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.
- Notify maintenance, stationary engineering, or other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunctions or to adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies.
- Inspect operating units, such as towers, soap-spray storage tanks, scrubbers, collectors, or driers to ensure that all are functioning and to maintain maximum efficiency.
Other job titles for this occupation (22)
Chemical Operator · Chemical Plant Operations Technician (Chemical Plan Operations Tech) · Chemical Plant Production Operator · Chemical Process Control Operator · Plant Technician (Plant Tech) · Process Control Operator · Process Development Associate · Process Operator · Process Technician (Process Tech) · Production Technician (Production Tech) · Chemical Plant Operator · Chemical Process Operator · Chemical Production Operator · Chemical Treatment Plant Technician (Chemical Treatment Plant Tech) · Development Associate · Furnace Plant Operator · Furnace Process Plant Operator · Nitric Acid Plant Operator · Processing Operator · Processing Technician (Processing Tech) · Production Machine Operator · Production Operator