# Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-equipment-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 51-9011.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $58,040 (10th percentile $37,440, 90th percentile $92,250)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.6%
- Openings a year: 13,900
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 93 |
| Investigative (I) | 36 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 5 |
| Conventional (C) | 59 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 87/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 83/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 79/100)
- Getting Information (importance 77/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 76/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 73/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 71/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 71/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 69/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Writing

## Knowledge

Chemistry, Production and Processing, Mathematics, Mechanical, English Language, Education and Training, Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Acid Operator, Acid Patroller, Acid Polymerization Operator, Acid Purification Equipment Operator, Acid Recovery Operator, Acid Retort Operator, Acid Tender, Aluminum Hydroxide Process Operator, Ammonia Nitrate Operator, Ammonia Still Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Physical Science Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4103) (CIP 4103, 97 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Lee College-Texas](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lee-college-texas-1466) | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $69,014 | $126,148 | $11,570 |
| [San Jacinto Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/san-jacinto-community-college-2351) | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $63,523 | $111,662 | not reported |
| [Ashland Community and Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ashland-community-and-technical-college-122) | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $60,917 | $103,607 | not reported |
| [College of the Mainland](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-mainland-627) | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $70,572 | $101,553 | not reported |
| [Victoria College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/victoria-college-3125) | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $99,658 | not reported |
| [Kilgore College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/kilgore-college-1397) | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $61,456 | $99,017 | not reported |
| [Del Mar College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/del-mar-college-782) | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $76,424 | $98,153 | $5,500 |
| [Lamar State College-Orange](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lamar-state-college-orange-1436) | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $78,259 | $92,294 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Chemical Plant and System Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-plant-and-system-operators): $78,120 median pay
- [Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/separating-filtering-clarifying-precipitating-and-still-machine-setters-operators-and): $51,610 median pay
- [Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-and-wastewater-treatment-plant-and-system-operators): $60,020 median pay
- [Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaning-washing-and-metal-pickling-equipment-operators-and-tenders): $43,530 median pay
- [Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/heat-treating-equipment-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $48,750 median pay
- [Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/furnace-kiln-oven-drier-and-kettle-operators-and-tenders): $48,040 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.