SOC 51-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders — Roanoke
Roanoke, VA · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in Roanoke, VA is $48,770 per year, 16.0% below the national median of $58,040.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in Roanoke, VA is $48,770 per year, 16.0% below the national median of $58,040. Pay ranges from under $39,420 at the tenth percentile to more than $60,780 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,470 to $60,780.
Employment stands at 30, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Richmond leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $61,840. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 222nd of 388 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,420 | −32.1% |
| 25th | $46,470 | −19.9% |
| Median (50th) | $48,770 | −16.0% |
| 75th | $60,780 | +4.7% |
| 90th | $60,780 | +4.7% |
| Mean | $51,240 | −11.7% |
Other metro areas in Virginia
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Roanoke sit close to the national average, so $48,770 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$48,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$48,239US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,770 a year, 16.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,420 to $60,780 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Richmond, at $61,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in Roanoke, VA?
The median annual wage is $48,770, or $23.45 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $58,040, so pay in Roanoke, VA is 16.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Roanoke, VA earns more than $60,780 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,420 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Richmond, at $61,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Roanoke, VA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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