Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary
Chemical Plant and System Operators in Arkansas make a median of $91,610 a year, or about $44.04 an hour. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $104,530 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 17.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $92K get you in Arkansas?
About chemical plant and system operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arkansas
Arkansas sits well above the national pay line for chemical plant and system operators, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $78K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Arkansas offers a genuinely strong financial position for chemical plant and system operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level chemical plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track chemical plant and system operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical plant and system operators in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical plant and system operators typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,465/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is chemical plant and system operator a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $92K here vs. $78K nationally.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for chemical plant and system operators?
Arkansas pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemical plant and system operators make in Arkansas?
The median is $91,610 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,420, and experienced chemical plant and system operators can clear $97,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,786/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 17.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical plant and system operators salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 plant and system operators salary is worth about $104,530 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical plant and system operators 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.