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Salary comparison

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers out-earn Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders by $16K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders land at $58,040 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers at $74,450. The education gap is real: chemical equipment operators and tender programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders is Wyoming ($101,590); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$58,040
$74,450
Hourly rate
$27.9/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,440
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$92,250
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
139,630
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
3.3%
1.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Wyoming
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders median pay.

State
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Wyoming
$101,590
$90,390
Louisiana
$78,580
$77,520
Rhode Island
$69,630
$81,650
Washington
$67,300
$79,310
Delaware
$63,200
$79,100
Maryland
$59,850
$78,520
Connecticut
$58,490
$83,150
Maine
$57,240
$78,970
Massachusetts
$56,920
$79,920
New Jersey
$56,500
$81,110
South Carolina
$56,240
$77,500
Minnesota
$53,340
$78,550
Colorado
$50,370
$78,890
New York
$49,640
$78,580
New Hampshire
$49,440
$79,310

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn more nationally. The median is $58,040 for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, a difference of $16K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders has the better 10-year outlook at 3.3% projected growth, compared to 1.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders get paid the most?

Wyoming is the top-paying state for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders at $101,590/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Wyoming, Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders earn $101,590 vs. $90,390 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a chemical equipment operators and tendersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →