Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in Tennessee make a median of $60,960 a year, or about $29.31 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $67,899 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 28.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Tennessee?
About chemical equipment operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Chemical equipment operators and tenders pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level chemical equipment operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Tennessee
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville | $63K | +4% | 60 |
| Memphis | $52K | -14% | 510 |
| Morristown | $48K | -21% | 100 |
| Knoxville | $47K | -23% | 190 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $47K | -24% | 300 |
| Chattanooga | $45K | -26% | 190 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical equipment operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical equipment operators and tenders in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical equipment operators and tenders typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,161/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemical equipment operators and tender a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for chemical equipment operators and tenders?
Tennessee pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemical equipment operators and tenders make in Tennessee?
The median is $60,960 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,010, and experienced chemical equipment operators and tenders can clear $74,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,252/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 28.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical equipment operators and tenders salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical equipment operators and tenders salary is worth about $67,899 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.