re: How does one go about getting a plant operator job?

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Glassdoor said $60k. Is that about right? I mean that's not bad, but I thought, based on comments here, it was way more.

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Maybe at first you might make 70-72k. Really depends on the plant. Dow is the lowest paying plant that I know of, although there are probably more. Syngenta in St. Gabriel pays well, in the 70-72k range to start, and that is before you know anything. You get progression raises every quarter for the first 36 months, and as you go, and you learn some of the process, and are qualified to work OT, you can make much more. The last 17 years I worked there I made well over 120k per year and did not work all the OT i could have. They have good insurance (Blue Cross) Dental, offer vision, and legal. Match the first 10% 401k. Since I retired, they have dropped the pension package. Your retirement is mostly based on what you can save in your 401k. I was lucky in that regard, they still had a good pension, they pay 75% of my medical insurance, plus I had my 401k when i left. It sucks for new employees, but many of the chem plants in our area are dropping pension, and medical now, and putting your retirement on you and what you can save, and leaving you to fund your own medical, although they did increase the match in your 401k. I did not take the lump sum of my pension plus 401k, but used my pension to buy an annuity from the plant, which was much better than anything on the open market, plus collect my SS. I do not have to use my 401k, and saving it as insurance for my wife should she need it. I am presently making as much in retirement as i was while i was working plus a little OT. I was a Sr. Technician when I retired.