SOC 51-8091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Plant and System Operators — New Jersey
New Jersey
In New Jersey the median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators is $86,820 a year, which is 11.1% higher than the national figure of $78,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In New Jersey the median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators is $86,820 a year, which is 11.1% higher than the national figure of $78,120. Half of workers earn between $72,570 and $94,920. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $62,760 and the ninetieth at $115,500.
The area has 330 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.73 — 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, New Jersey ranks 11th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 220th of 736 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,760 | −19.7% |
| 25th | $72,570 | −7.1% |
| Median (50th) | $86,820 | +11.1% |
| 75th | $94,920 | +21.5% |
| 90th | $115,500 | +47.8% |
| Mean | $86,380 | +10.6% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $86,820 buys what $79,798 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$86,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,798US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $86,820 a year, 11.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $62,760 to $115,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 330 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 11th of 35 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in New Jersey?
The median annual wage is $86,820, or $41.74 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 New Jersey is 11.1% 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 New Jersey earns more than $115,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $62,760 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 330 jobs in this occupation in New Jersey. 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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