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Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

	Median Wage (USD, 2025)	Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)	Projected Growth (2025-2035)
National Statistics	$58040	14400	3.3%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$58040

Median Wage (USD, 2025)

14400

Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)

3.3%

Projected Growth (2025-2035)

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 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

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.
Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Inspect production equipment.
Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
Record operational or production data.
Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
Clean production equipment.
Operate pumping systems or equipment.
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Repair production equipment or tools.
Maintain production or processing equipment.
Lubricate production equipment.
Compare physical characteristics of materials or products to specifications or standards.
Direct operational or production activities.
Load materials into production equipment.
Estimate material requirements for production.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
Load materials into equipment for processing.
Load materials 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.
Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing.
Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes.
Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
Load products into tanks for shipment.
Estimate materials required for production and manufacturing of products.
Dump or scoop prescribed solid, granular, or powdered materials into equipment.
Read plant specifications to determine products, ingredients, or prescribed modifications of plant procedures.
Notify maintenance engineers of equipment malfunctions.
Drain equipment, and pump water or other solutions through to flush and clean tanks or equipment.
Observe and compare colors and consistencies of products to instrument readings and to laboratory and standard test results.
Add treating or neutralizing agents to products, and pump products through filters or centrifuges to remove impurities or to precipitate products.
Implement appropriate industrial emergency response procedures.
Make minor repairs, lubricate, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
Flush or clean equipment, using steam hoses or mechanical reamers.
Direct activities of workers assisting in control or verification of processes or in unloading of materials.
Inventory supplies received and consumed.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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.

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