Chemical Plant and System Operators pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,940 or more. The middle half of chemical plant and system operators in Pittsburgh earn between $64,270 and $80,930.
- $62K10th
- $64K25th
- $64KMedian
- $81K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,210 | $5,851 | $33.75 |
| Median | $64,360 | $5,363 | $30.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,270 | $5,356 | $30.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,930 | $6,744 | $38.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Plant and System Operators pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Chemical plant and system operators in Pittsburgh earn 4% less than the Pennsylvania average ($72,840) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($79,970). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $78,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $70,210 | $64,360 | $62,130 | $80,940 | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,840 | $70,110 | $54,770 | $90,420 | 770 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $70,210, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $56,067 a year, or $4,672 a month and $2,156 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for chemical plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $70,210 buys what about $74,162 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 2nd of 2 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($82,270).
- Philadelphia$82,270
- Pittsburgh$70,210
All Chemical Plant and System Operators salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pittsburgh: questions
How much do chemical plant and system operators make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$33.76 an hour on average, and $30.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical plant and system operators salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical plant and system operators take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $56,067 a year ($4,672 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,210. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do chemical plant and system operators earn more in Pittsburgh than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.32, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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