Chemical Plant and System Operators Salary in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA is $87,210. BLS estimates approximately 100 people work in this occupation in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA is 11.6% above the national median ($78,120).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,610 | $28.66 |
| 25th percentile | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Median (50th) | $87,210 | $41.93 |
| 75th percentile | $100,800 | $48.46 |
| 90th percentile | $102,330 | $49.20 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 3.7% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 26% — Low reliability
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 0.08
- Location quotient
- 0.75
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA’s regional price level is above the national average (index 105.421, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $82,725 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.