Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in Richmond, VA
Chemical Plant and System Operators in Richmond, VA make a median of $76,550 a year, or about $36.8 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.86), that's roughly $78,224 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,655/month — about 32.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $77K get you in Richmond?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Richmond’s Regional Price Parity (97.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About chemical plant and system operators
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Richmond, VA
Entry-level chemical plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $113K | +54% | 410 |
| Wyoming | $104K | +42% | 320 |
| Texas | $99K | +35% | 2,980 |
| Kentucky | $99K | +34% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $97K | +31% | 3,360 |
| Maryland | $93K | +26% | 320 |
| New Jersey | $89K | +20% | 320 |
| California | $88K | +20% | 590 |
| Alabama | $84K | +15% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | +3% | 750 |
| Florida | $69K | -7% | 230 |
| West Virginia | $68K | -8% | 230 |
| Michigan | $67K | -9% | 90 |
| Illinois | $67K | -9% | 290 |
| Tennessee | $66K | -10% | 260 |
| Ohio | $66K | -11% | 460 |
| Massachusetts | $66K | -11% | 250 |
| Montana | $65K | -11% | 120 |
| Minnesota | $64K | -12% | 110 |
| Georgia | $63K | -15% | 200 |
| Connecticut | $63K | -15% | 30 |
| Virginia | $62K | -16% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $61K | -17% | 480 |
| New York | $61K | -17% | 120 |
| Iowa | $60K | -18% | N/A |
| Washington | $58K | -21% | 220 |
| Idaho | $57K | -22% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -23% | 180 |
| North Carolina | $57K | -23% | 1,130 |
| Mississippi | $56K | -24% | 300 |
| Utah | $53K | -27% | 330 |
| Indiana | $51K | -30% | 290 |
| Wisconsin | $51K | -31% | 110 |
| Missouri | $51K | -31% | 370 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -37% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemical plant and system operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Richmond numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical plant and system operators make in Richmond, VA?
The median is $76,550 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,790, and experienced chemical plant and system operators can clear $91,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Richmond?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,863/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,655/month, which eats 34% 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 plant and system operators salary go in Richmond?
Richmond has a Regional Price Parity of 97.86 (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 $78,224 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.