Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary
Chemical Plant and System Operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV make a median of $66,640 a year, or about $32.04 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $61,205 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 51.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $67K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Pay for chemical plant and system operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $78K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 51.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for chemical plant and system operatorss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemical plant and system operators in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $78K | $80K |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $67K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level chemical plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $58K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 51.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical plant and system operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical plant and system operators typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,510/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 89% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $67K here vs. $78K nationally.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for chemical plant and system operators?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do chemical plant and system operators make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $66,640 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,830, and experienced chemical plant and system operators can clear $100,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,357/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 51.5% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical plant and system operators salary is worth about $61,205 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.