Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary
Chemical Plant and System Operators in Spartanburg, SC make a median of $68,810 a year, or about $33.08 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.05), which stretches that salary to about $75,574 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,187/month, or 26.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $69K get you in Spartanburg?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Spartanburg’s Regional Price Parity (91.05). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About chemical plant and system operators
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What this looks like in Spartanburg
Pay for chemical plant and system operators in Spartanburg runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,187/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemical plant and system operators in metros near Spartanburg, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $60K | $65K |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $68K | $67K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $65K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Spartanburg, SC
Entry-level chemical plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $129K | +65% | 60 |
| Wyoming | $108K | +38% | 300 |
| Texas | $103K | +32% | 2,360 |
| Louisiana | $100K | +28% | 3,400 |
| Kentucky | $98K | +25% | 40 |
| Maryland | $95K | +22% | 290 |
| Alabama | $92K | +17% | 230 |
| Arkansas | $92K | +17% | 240 |
| California | $88K | +12% | 780 |
| Oregon | $87K | +12% | 120 |
| New Jersey | $87K | +11% | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $84K | +7% | 570 |
| Idaho | $83K | +6% | 60 |
| West Virginia | $82K | +5% | 380 |
| New Mexico | $73K | -7% | N/A |
| Michigan | $72K | -7% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $71K | -9% | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $70K | -10% | 770 |
| South Carolina | $69K | -12% | 610 |
| Ohio | $68K | -13% | 240 |
| Minnesota | $67K | -15% | 150 |
| Illinois | $66K | -16% | 160 |
| Utah | $63K | -19% | 320 |
| Virginia | $63K | -19% | 760 |
| New York | $63K | -19% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -19% | 660 |
| Colorado | $63K | -20% | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | -20% | 90 |
| Iowa | $60K | -23% | 490 |
| Washington | $60K | -23% | 350 |
| South Dakota | $60K | -23% | 180 |
| Missouri | $55K | -29% | 450 |
| Georgia | $49K | -37% | 220 |
| Indiana | $49K | -37% | 320 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -41% | 350 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
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 Spartanburg numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Spartanburg?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,187/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical plant and system operators in Spartanburg?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical plant and system operators typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,890/month. At HUD’s $1,187/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemical plant and system operator a high-paying job in Spartanburg?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $69K here vs. $78K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Spartanburg compare to the national average for chemical plant and system operators?
Spartanburg pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do chemical plant and system operators make in Spartanburg, SC?
The median is $68,810 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,170, and experienced chemical plant and system operators can clear $72,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Spartanburg?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,502/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,187/month, which eats 26.4% 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 Spartanburg?
Spartanburg has a Regional Price Parity of 91.05 (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 $75,574 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.