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Advanced ManufacturingGreen JobOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.

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.

Annual openings

113

Median wage

$50,370

Typical education

High school (GED)

Growth 2026–2032

+10%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

High school (GED)

Credential requirement

A National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Level I Certification is valued.

Work experience

This is an entry-level role so no experience is required. However, training/knowledge in science, technology, engineering, mathematics is valued.

Employer competency information

  • Feedback from employers identifies the following competencies as being critical to success: mechanical aptitude, attention to detail (including the ability to build something to specifications and tolerance), diagnosing and problem solving, basic computer skills, teamwork, a focus on safety, and accountability.
Did you love to make messes in the kitchen as a kid? Do chemistry experiments intrigue you? A chemical equipment operator spends their days managing chemicals and chemical processing machines. As a chemical equipment operator, you’ll work on the production floor as a critical component of the assembly line. It’s a fast-paced, ever-changing job that involves everything from chemicals to computers.
Chemical equipment operators work with very specific, specialized machines. As a result, you’ll get to know the ins and outs of your machine. Routine maintenance and upkeep are a part of your job as well as diagnosing problems and issues that might slow down or stop the manufacturing line. Knowledge of and attention to safety procedures is vital when working with chemicals and heavy machinery because both can be very dangerous. You’ll work with chemicals you’ve never heard of, making products that may range from medical gases to food products.
Your everyday tasks will include loading chemicals into the machines, which requires strength and caution. You’ll also start and stop the machines and check gauges to make sure everything is running properly. You might have the job of unloading and transporting finished products, cleaning the machine, and training new operators.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

High exposure

Many tasks are repeatable, so technology could reshape the day-to-day over time.

A typical day

  1. Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
  2. Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
  3. Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
  4. Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
  5. Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes.
  6. Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
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