Occupation: 51-9010

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

Statistics
National
State
City
State
City
$57,090
Median Wage (USD, 2023)
11100
Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)
-5.4%
Projected Growth (2023-2033)
Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.

Experience Requirements Overview

  • Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
  • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
  • These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
  • Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
  • Maintain safety.
  • Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
  • Operate chemical processing or water treatment systems or equipment.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

  • Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
  • Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
  • Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
  • Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
  • Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.