Job description

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.

• 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.

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Salary

Chemical Equipment Operators with little to no experience tend to make between $29050 and $36750 while the more experienced ones can earn over $63380 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender is to move to a higher paying state like WY. Right now, the highest paying states for Chemical Equipment Operators are WY, LA, WV, DE and TX.

However, a higher pay at WY doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at WY might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

Requirements

We asked other Chemical Equipment Operators what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by a College Certificate.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender.

What is the job like

59% of Chemical Equipment Operators said they were satisfied with their job and 48% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Is this right for me

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

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