Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in Boulder, CO make a median of $51,230 a year, or about $24.63 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers.
So what does $51K get you in Boulder?
About chemical equipment operators and tenders
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemical equipment operators and tenders in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $50K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $51K | , |
| Greeley | $46K | , |
| Albuquerque | $45K | $47K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level chemical equipment operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $102K | +75% | 290 |
| Alabama | $80K | +38% | 3,280 |
| Montana | $80K | +37% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $79K | +35% | 6,430 |
| Idaho | $77K | +33% | 550 |
| Rhode Island | $70K | +20% | 430 |
| Washington | $67K | +16% | 1,720 |
| West Virginia | $66K | +14% | 1,190 |
| Arkansas | $64K | +11% | 1,160 |
| Mississippi | $64K | +11% | 990 |
| Delaware | $63K | +9% | 1,160 |
| Illinois | $62K | +7% | 5,580 |
| Tennessee | $61K | +5% | 3,860 |
| New Mexico | $61K | +5% | 170 |
| Ohio | $61K | +4% | 7,830 |
| Texas | $60K | +4% | 20,880 |
| Virginia | $60K | +3% | 2,040 |
| Maryland | $60K | +3% | 1,220 |
| Nebraska | $60K | +3% | 1,020 |
| Nevada | $59K | +1% | 210 |
| Connecticut | $58K | +1% | 860 |
| California | $58K | +0% | 5,670 |
| Iowa | $58K | -1% | 2,010 |
| Kentucky | $58K | -1% | 3,590 |
| Maine | $57K | -1% | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $57K | -2% | 2,860 |
| Indiana | $57K | -2% | 6,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | -2% | 6,230 |
| Oregon | $57K | -3% | 950 |
| New Jersey | $57K | -3% | 8,560 |
| South Carolina | $56K | -3% | 4,040 |
| Kansas | $55K | -5% | 1,920 |
| Minnesota | $53K | -8% | 1,170 |
| Wisconsin | $51K | -12% | 2,730 |
| Missouri | $51K | -13% | 2,790 |
| Colorado | $50K | -13% | 910 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -14% | 790 |
| Michigan | $50K | -14% | 5,210 |
| Georgia | $50K | -14% | 4,330 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -14% | 5,260 |
| New York | $50K | -14% | 4,270 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | -15% | 350 |
| South Dakota | $49K | -16% | 230 |
| Hawaii | $48K | -18% | 30 |
| Arizona | $46K | -21% | 1,330 |
| Florida | $44K | -24% | 4,270 |
| Utah | $39K | -33% | 2,610 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemical equipment operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical equipment operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 34.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,187/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical equipment operators and tenders in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical equipment operators and tenders typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,614/month.
Is chemical equipment operators and tender a high-paying job in Boulder?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $51K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for chemical equipment operators and tenders?
Boulder pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -12%.
How much do chemical equipment operators and tenders make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $51,230 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,560, and experienced chemical equipment operators and tenders can clear $64,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,412/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,187/month, which eats 34.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chemical equipment operators and tenders salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical equipment operators and tenders salary is worth about $51,230 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical equipment operators and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.