SOC 51-8091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Plant and System Operators — Oregon
Oregon · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Oregon comes to $87,110 a year, ahead of the national median of $78,120 by 11.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Oregon comes to $87,110 a year, ahead of the national median of $78,120 by 11.5%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $76,420 and $100,800. The lowest tenth earn under $68,550, while the highest tenth earn more than $102,330.
Employment stands at 120, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 35 states with published data for this occupation, Oregon ranks 10th by median wage. Portland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $87,210. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 188th of 727 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $68,550 | −12.3% |
| 25th | $76,420 | −2.2% |
| Median (50th) | $87,110 | +11.5% |
| 75th | $100,800 | +29.0% |
| 90th | $102,330 | +31.0% |
| Mean | $88,420 | +13.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Oregon
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland | $87,210 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Oregon run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $87,110 buys what $84,246 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 7.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$87,110as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$84,246US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $87,110 a year, 11.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $68,550 to $102,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 10th of 35 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $87,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Oregon?
The median annual wage is $87,110, or $41.88 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 Oregon is 11.5% 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 Oregon earns more than $102,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $68,550 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 Portland, at $87,210 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in Oregon. 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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