Chemical Plant and System Operators pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,520 or more. The middle half of chemical plant and system operators in Richmond earn between $59,870 and $84,800.
- $43K10th
- $60K25th
- $78KMedian
- $85K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,950 | $6,079 | $35.07 |
| Median | $77,930 | $6,494 | $37.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,870 | $4,989 | $28.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,800 | $7,067 | $40.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Chemical plant and system operators in Richmond earn 13% more than the Virginia average ($64,330) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($79,970). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $78,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $72,950 | $77,930 | $43,330 | $96,520 | 340 |
| Virginia | $64,330 | $63,000 | $36,330 | $84,800 | 760 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $72,950, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $56,770 a year, or $4,731 a month and $2,183 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for chemical plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $72,950 buys what about $74,547 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Washington, DC$69,890
- Hagerstown, MD$68,680
- Greensboro, NC$64,880
- Philadelphia, PA$82,270
- Pittsburgh, PA$70,210
- New York, NY$86,190
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 Richmond: questions
How much do chemical plant and system operators make an hour in Richmond?
$35.07 an hour on average, and $37.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical plant and system operators salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical plant and system operators take-home pay in Richmond?
About $56,770 a year ($4,731 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,950.
Do chemical plant and system operators earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 4.83, this job is 4.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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