Chemical Plant and System Operators pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $111,930 or more. The middle half of chemical plant and system operators in San Francisco earn between $86,430 and $111,930.
- $86K10th
- $86K25th
- $112KMedian
- $112K75th
- $112K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,110 | $8,592 | $49.57 |
| Median | $111,900 | $9,325 | $53.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,430 | $7,202 | $41.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,930 | $9,328 | $53.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Chemical plant and system operators in San Francisco earn 13% more than the California average ($91,260) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($79,970). At the median the gap is +43% against the U.S. median of $78,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $103,110 | $111,900 | $86,410 | $111,930 | 300 |
| California | $91,260 | $87,550 | $73,900 | $111,930 | 780 |
| United States | $79,970 | $78,120 | $48,400 | $111,930 | 16,610 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $103,110, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $75,871 a year, or $6,323 a month and $2,918 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for chemical plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $103,110 buys what about $89,185 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Portland, OR$87,710
- Denver, CO$71,600
- Sioux Falls, SD$59,630
- Minneapolis, MN$71,300
- Houston, TX$99,020
- Beaumont, TX$107,760
Highest-paying cities for chemical plant and system operators
Beaumont, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,760).
- Beaumont, TX$107,760
- San Francisco, CA$103,110
- Baton Rouge, LA$99,170
- Houston, TX$99,020
- Lake Charles, LA$98,990
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Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do chemical plant and system operators make an hour in San Francisco?
$49.57 an hour on average, and $53.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical plant and system operators salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical plant and system operators take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $75,871 a year ($6,323 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,110. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do chemical plant and system operators earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% more than the U.S. average for this job ($79,970).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8091; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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