SOC 51-8091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Plant and System Operators — Richmond
Richmond, VA
The median wage here is $77,930 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $78,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $77,930 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $78,120. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $59,870 and $84,800. The lowest tenth earn under $43,330, while the highest tenth earn more than $96,520.
The area has 340 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Of the 593 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 183rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,330 | −44.5% |
| 25th | $59,870 | −23.4% |
| Median (50th) | $77,930 | −0.2% |
| 75th | $84,800 | +8.6% |
| 90th | $96,520 | +23.6% |
| Mean | $72,950 | −6.6% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Richmond sit close to the national average, so $77,930 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$77,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$77,082US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $77,930 a year, 0.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,330 to $96,520 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Richmond, VA?
The median annual wage is $77,930, or $37.47 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 Richmond, VA is 0.2% lower. 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 Richmond, VA earns more than $96,520 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,330 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 340 jobs in this occupation in Richmond, VA. 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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