SOC 51-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders — Virginia
Virginia · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $59,970 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $58,040.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $59,970 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $58,040. Half of workers earn between $49,250 and $65,030. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $41,990 and the ninetieth at $76,910.
The area has 2,040 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Among the 47 states with published data for this occupation, Virginia ranks 17th by median wage. 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 389th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,990 | −27.7% |
| 25th | $49,250 | −15.1% |
| Median (50th) | $59,970 | +3.3% |
| 75th | $65,030 | +12.0% |
| 90th | $76,910 | +32.5% |
| Mean | $59,350 | +2.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Virginia
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Virginia sit close to the national average, so $59,970 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$59,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$59,318US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,970 a year, 3.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $41,990 to $76,910 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,040 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 17th of 47 states for 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 Virginia?
The median annual wage is $59,970, or $28.83 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 Virginia is 3.3% 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 Virginia earns more than $76,910 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $41,990 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 2,040 jobs in this occupation in Virginia. 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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