SOC 51-8091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Plant and System Operators — Alabama
Alabama · 1 metro areas compared
In Alabama the median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators is $91,610 a year, which is 17.3% higher than the national figure of $78,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Alabama the median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators is $91,610 a year, which is 17.3% higher than the national figure of $78,120. Half of workers earn between $78,080 and $96,210. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $56,500 and the ninetieth at $101,800.
The area has 230 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.02 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 35 states with published data for this occupation, Alabama ranks 7th by median wage. Mobile leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $96,210. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 113th of 690 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,500 | −27.7% |
| 25th | $78,080 | −0.1% |
| Median (50th) | $91,610 | +17.3% |
| 75th | $96,210 | +23.2% |
| 90th | $101,800 | +30.3% |
| Mean | $85,710 | +9.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mobile | $96,210 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $91,610 goes as far as $103,164 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 32.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$91,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$103,164US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $91,610 a year, 17.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $56,500 to $101,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 7th of 35 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Mobile, at $96,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Alabama?
The median annual wage is $91,610, or $44.04 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 $78,120, so pay in Alabama is 17.3% 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 Alabama earns more than $101,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $56,500 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 Mobile, at $96,210 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Alabama. 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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