Chemical plant process operator | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Chemical plant process operators control machinery that makes chemical products, like paints, cleaning fluids and cosmetics.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or

Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
Inspect operating units, such as towers, soap-spray storage tanks, scrubbers, collectors, or driers to ensure that all are functioning and to maintain maximum efficiency.
Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.
Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitors and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments.
Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, or product quality.
Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases or vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, or perfume to towers, or to add products to converter or blending vessels.
Notify maintenance, stationary engineering, or other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunctions or to adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies.
Repair or replace damaged equipment.
Gauge tank levels, using calibrated rods.
Calculate material requirements or yields according to formulas.
Direct workers engaged in operating machinery that regulates the flow of materials and products.
Supervise the cleaning of towers, strainers, or spray tips.
Defrost frozen valves, using steam hoses.

Read more about Chemical plant process operator

Chemical plant process operators typically work around 42 to 44 hours per week.

As a Chemical plant process operator you will typically work evenings / weekends.

This occupation tends to be:

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely

Read more about Chemical plant process operator

* from ONETonline

Average salary
62,298 GBP *
per year

* data taken from the Office of National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Average salary for Chemical plant process operator

Big gender gap

64,520 GBP
52,989 GBP

Average salary for part-time Chemical plant process operator

Average salary for full-time Chemical plant process operator

Showing:

14,537 GBP
16,914 GBP
13,353 GBP

62,298 GBP
52,989 GBP
64,520 GBP

Salary over time for Chemical plant process operator

Salary for this role has increased over time

55,137 GBP
54,572 GBP
57,443 GBP
59,268 GBP
61,113 GBP
62,621 GBP
62,298 GBP
61,521 GBP
60,156 GBP

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Future outlook for Chemical plant process operators

Very good outlook

636 000+ jobs available

Balanced outlook

1% yearly wage growth (on average)

Very good outlook

30% chance of automation in the future

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a Chemical plant process operator and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

In terms of people already doing this job:

% of people in this role have GCSEs or equivalent
% of people in this role have a Bachelor's degree
% of people in this role have a post-secondary qualification such as a Higher National Diploma

You could take a college course, which would give you some of the skills and knowledge needed in the job, for example:

Level 1 Certificate in Applied Science
Level 2 Diploma in Process Technology

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a Chemical plant process operator

Chemical Engineering

What soft skills do I need?

Rise above the competition by brushing up on the 5 most important soft skills you need to become a Chemical plant process operator.

Operation Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly

Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems

Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action

Quality Control Analysis Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance

Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems

Dependability Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. Integrity Job requires being honest and ethical. Stress Tolerance Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. Analytical Thinking Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

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Chemical plant process operator | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Salary statistics

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Future outlook for Chemical plant process operators

Chemical plant process operator - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

What soft skills do I need?

Things to highlight for your Chemical plant process operator interview

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