Jobs / Physical work / 51-9011.00

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.

US jobs
139,630
Median wage
$58,040 a year
Job family
Physical work

Can agents do the work of chemical equipment operators and tenders?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Physical work:

  • Task levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.
  • Project levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.

Unexplored territory

No benchmark in this atlas covers this work yet.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
  • Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
  • Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
  • Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
  • Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
  • Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
  • Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
  • Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
  • Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing.
  • 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.
  • Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
  • Load products into tanks for shipment.
Other job titles for this occupation (44)

Chemical Operator (Chemical Tech) · Chemical Process Operator · Chemical Reactor Operator · Chlorination Operator · Multiskill Operator · Outside Operator · Process Equipment Operator · Process Operator · Spray Dry Operator · 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 · Chemical Equipment Controller · Chemical Machine Tender · Chemical Process Equipment Operator · Chemical Unit Operator · Chlorinator · Chlorinator Operator · Chlorine Cells Operator · Chlorine Operator · De-Ionizer Operator · Dehydrogenation Converter Operator · Desulphuring Operator · Desulphurizer Operator · Devulcanizer Operator · Devulcanizer Tender · Hydrochloric Acid Operator · MVA Operator (Monovinylacetylene Operator) · MVA Reactor Operator (Monovinylacetylene Reactor Operator) · MVA Still Operator (Monovinylacetylene Still Operator) · Nitroglycerin Separator Operator · Oxidation Operator · Reactor Operator · Still Operator · Wet Mix Operator · White Lead Filterer · Zinc Chloride Operator