SOC 51-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in San Jose, CA is $63,510 per year, 9.4% above 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 San Jose, CA is $63,510 per year, 9.4% above the national median of $58,040. Pay ranges from under $48,190 at the tenth percentile to more than $84,780 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $58,600 to $81,470.
The area has 260 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $71,210. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 375th of 574 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,190 | −17.0% |
| 25th | $58,600 | +1.0% |
| Median (50th) | $63,510 | +9.4% |
| 75th | $81,470 | +40.4% |
| 90th | $84,780 | +46.1% |
| Mean | $68,660 | +18.3% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $71,210 | 760 | |
| 2 | Vallejo | $63,790 | 80 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $61,870 | 870 | |
| 4 | Santa Maria | $61,770 | 80 | |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo | $59,050 | 40 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $55,750 | 2,030 | |
| 7 | Modesto | $54,770 | 50 | |
| 8 | Santa Rosa | $54,560 | 70 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $51,450 | 150 | |
| 10 | Bakersfield | $51,310 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $63,510 buys what $57,371 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$63,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,371US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $63,510 a year, 9.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,190 to $84,780 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 260 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $71,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $63,510, or $30.54 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 San Jose, CA is 9.4% higher. 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 San Jose, CA earns more than $84,780 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,190 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 San Francisco, at $71,210 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 260 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. 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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