# Chemical Plant and System Operators

> Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-8091.00
- **Summary:** Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.

## Aliases

- Chemical Operator
- Loader Technician
- Process Operator
- Process Technician
- Process Control Operator
- Process Development Associate
- Production Technician
- Ammonia Still Operator
- Ammonia Technician
- Badger Distiller Operator
- Bucket Wash Operator
- Chemical Plant Operator

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitors and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, or product quality. | Core | 4.A.4.b.1.a |
| Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases or vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, or perfume to towers, or to add products to converter or blending vessels. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.b |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Operate chemical processing or water treatment systems or equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Confer with others to resolve production problems or equipment malfunctions. | 4.A.4.b.1.a |
| Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Collect samples of materials or products for testing. | 4.A.3.a.2.b |
| Operate pumping systems or equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Analyze test results. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Monitor equipment fluid levels. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Inspect production equipment. | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Direct operational or production activities. | 4.A.4.b.4.j |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Estimate material requirements for production. | 4.A.2.b.1.h |
| Replace worn equipment components. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Repair production equipment or tools. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 4.12 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 4 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.75 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.75 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.75 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.7 |
| Chemistry | knowledge | 3.69 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.62 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.62 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.62 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.62 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.51 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.5 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.5 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.5 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3.5 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.38 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.38 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | ability | 3.38 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3.34 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.25 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3.25 |
| Auditory Attention | ability | 3.25 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.12 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.12 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.12 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.12 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.08 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Industrial Control Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Alarm management system software | Industrial control software | no | no |
| Coordinated incident management system CIMS software | Network security or virtual private network VPN management software | no | no |
| Distributed control system DCS | Industrial control software | no | no |
| Interlock shutdown systems | Industrial control software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.99 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.98 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 4.94 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.85 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.8 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 4.76 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.66 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.59 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.54 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 4.54 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.47 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.46 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 4.41 |
| Contact With Others | 4.36 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.2 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 4.17 |
| Consequence of Error | 4.13 |
| Time Pressure | 4.11 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.1 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 4.07 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4.04 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.96 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.9 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.82 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.81 |
| Exposed to High Places | 3.7 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.65 |
| Degree of Automation | 3.64 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.59 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.57 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.55 |
| E-Mail | 3.54 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.39 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 3.34 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 3.3 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.28 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 3.24 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.12 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 2.99 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 2.93 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.97 |
| Some College Courses | 0.51 |
| Master's Degree | 0.3 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.21 |
| Doctoral Degree | 0.21 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.22 |
| Dependability | work_style | 6 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 5.16 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 5 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 4.01 |
| Integrity | work_style | 4 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 3.97 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 3.18 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.18 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 3 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 2.29 |
| Stress Tolerance | work_style | 2.17 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 2.14 |
| Self-Control | work_style | 2.06 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 2.03 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-9011.00 | role-51-9011-00 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9012.00 | role-51-9012-00 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-8031.00 | role-51-8031-00 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | Primary-Short |
| 51-8093.00 | role-51-8093-00 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | Primary-Short |
| 51-8013.03 | role-51-8013-03 | Biomass Plant Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 51-8013.00 | role-51-8013-00 | Power Plant Operators | Primary-Long |
| 51-9192.00 | role-51-9192-00 | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 53-7071.00 | role-53-7071-00 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | Primary-Long |
| 51-8092.00 | role-51-8092-00 | Gas Plant Operators | Primary-Long |
| 51-8021.00 | role-51-8021-00 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | Primary-Long |
| 17-2041.00 | role-17-2041-00 | Chemical Engineers | Supplemental |
| 51-8099.01 | role-51-8099-01 | Biofuels Processing Technicians | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Science Technologies/Technicians | science-technologies-technicians |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 73540
- **Mean Wage:** 76290
- **Pct10Wage:** 48000
- **Pct25Wage:** 57080
- **Pct75Wage:** 98050
- **Pct90Wage:** 107790
- **Employment:** 17840
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 15840 | 74530 | 10.73 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 1340 | 55940 | 1.92 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 130 | 62250 | 0.1 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 90 | 57580 |  |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 60 | 101880 |  |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector |  | 98060 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 15840 | 10.73 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 1340 | 1.92 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 130 | 0.1 |
- **Count:** 6

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.85 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.3831282 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.3017132 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.560149 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 26
- **Percentile:** 24
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 38 | felten_aioe |
| 30 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 9 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.3831282 | 38 | Moderate | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.2727272727272727 | 30 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.046133434157994466 | 9 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.85
- **Percentile:** 71
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.030303030303030304
- **Beta:** 0.15151515151515152
- **Gamma:** 0.2727272727272727

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calculate material requirements or yields according to formulas. | 0.0018487401862708444 | 4.38 |
| Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitors and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments. | 0.0016433246100185286 | 4.49 |
| Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings. | 0.0015406168218923706 | 4.52 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -6.1
- **Growth Percentile:** 10
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 1.6
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 23
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 18.1
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 17

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 19
- **Skills:** 34
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 7
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** b9709054978b7c7e