Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in Wisconsin
Chemical Plant and System Operators in Wisconsin earn a median of $62,720 a year ($30.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,060 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $78,120. Wisconsin ranks 28th of 35 states for chemical plant and system operators pay. There are 0.03 chemical plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.29). The average (mean) salary is $65,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical plant and system operators in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| 25th percentile | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Median | $62,720 | $30.15 |
| 75th percentile | $67,800 | $32.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,060 | $38.49 |
| Average (mean) | $65,470 | $31.48 |
Half of chemical plant and system operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,226.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,613.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,412.31 |
| Weekly | $1,206.15 |
| Hourly | $30.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,720 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,710 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for chemical plant and system operators
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $63,550 | $30.56 |
| Power Plant Operator | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $61,170 | $29.41 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,800 | $30.19 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $85,080 | $40.91 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $83,140 | $39.97 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $71,450 | $34.35 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,840 | $35.98 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,410 | $28.08 |
| Machinist | $59,110 | $28.42 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical plant and system operators make in Wisconsin?
The median salary for chemical plant and system operators in Wisconsin is $62,720 a year, or $30.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical plant and system operators make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of chemical plant and system operators in Wisconsin earn at least $80,060 a year. The top 25% earn $67,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical plant and system operators in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,180 a year, and a quarter of chemical plant and system operators earn $52,000 or less.
How many chemical plant and system operators work in Wisconsin?
About 90 chemical plant and system operators are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.