My work day starts at 4 am or 4 pm since it’s shift work (rotates days and nights). I go in and make relief with the previous shift to see what has been done for the day. We check the maintenance schedule to see if any equipment (mostly pumps) needs to be ready for work to be done. I make rounds on equipment in the process unit and catch samples for lab results to make sure our product is on spec for customers. We’re paid for our troubleshooting skills to keep the plant making money 24/7.
CAREER
Chemical Plant and System Operators
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$65,960
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
-3.1% (decline)
Most Common Level of Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Chemical Plant and System Operators Do
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
Other Job Titles Chemical Plant and System Operators May Have
Chemical Operator, Loader Technician, Process Control Operator, Process Development Associate, Process Operator, Process Technician, Production Technician
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
- Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
- Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
- Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
- Inspect operating units, such as towers, soap-spray storage tanks, scrubbers, collectors, or driers to ensure that all are functioning and to maintain maximum efficiency.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Chemical Plant and System Operators
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Some college, no degree (35%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Associate's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Chemical Process Technology
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Any type of mechanical background would be great for this job. Working on cars, fixing things around the house will give you an advantage in becoming a process operator.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
