Chemical Plant and System Operators pay range in St. Louis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,570 or more. The middle half of chemical plant and system operators in St. Louis earn between $52,290 and $58,430.
- $48K10th
- $52K25th
- $52KMedian
- $58K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,420 | $4,702 | $27.12 |
| Median | $52,330 | $4,361 | $25.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,290 | $4,358 | $25.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,430 | $4,869 | $28.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay in St. Louis vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Chemical plant and system operators in St. Louis earn 4% less than the Missouri average ($58,650) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($79,970). At the median the gap is -33% against the U.S. median of $78,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $56,420 | $52,330 | $48,390 | $64,570 | 190 |
| Missouri | $58,650 | $55,470 | $46,590 | $78,040 | 450 |
| 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 St. Louis
On the average salary of $56,420, a single filer in St. Louis takes home about $45,235 a year, or $3,770 a month and $1,740 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MO | $45,235 | $3,770 |
| Working in IL | $44,862 | $3,738 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes St. Louis's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is St. Louis a good place for chemical plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the St. Louis area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.1), so the average $56,420 buys what about $59,335 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in St. Louis ($49,990). A typical home costs $276,878, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Chicago, IL$66,660
- Memphis, TN$60,070
- Minneapolis, MN$71,300
- Sioux Falls, SD$59,630
- Greenville, SC$60,140
- Spartanburg, SC$64,250
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 St. Louis: questions
How much do chemical plant and system operators make an hour in St. Louis?
$27.12 an hour on average, and $25.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical plant and system operators salary in St. Louis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical plant and system operators take-home pay in St. Louis?
About $45,235 a year ($3,770 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,420. Includes St. Louis's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do chemical plant and system operators earn more in St. Louis than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less 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 St. Louis, MO-IL (41180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes St. Louis's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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