Chemical Equipment Operator

Explore This Path

Ideal for those fascinated by chemical processes and industrial innovation.
Play a crucial role in producing essential consumer and industrial products.
Operate unique equipment like devulcanizers and reactor vessels.

💰 Earn $44K-$63K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 -5.4% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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.

Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.

Scoop

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or GED

Career Prospects

Risky (Decreasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

11,100 Annually

Median Earnings

$50,220 in California

$51,720 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

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$250K

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Coordination
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking

You value 🙏

Having support
Having freedom
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Chemical Equipment Operator

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years