Operator vs. Engineer?

Depends on the OT

Process engineers probably make 120-150K if I had to guess.

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Process engineers probably make 120-150K if I had to guess.

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That's for the newer guys, the guys that have been at those plants for 15 plus years and truly know the ins and outs of the process make some serious cash

The operators are really selling the frick outta their roles

Depends on operator pay rates and contract if they are union. You may be surprised that some sites don’t have a pay scale for union based on years of employment. A new hire operator makes the same per hour as one in their 30th year. Now the older operator will have more qualifications, could be promoted to a higher level of step up pay if they are willing, and will have first dibs on OT, but the posted job pays the same.

Engineering starting out will make more in terms of base pay and they are salaried. Different companies have different raises and compensation structure so it’s hard to answer. But long story short, pay ceiling is much much higher for an engineer regardless of career path. Like absurdly higher and especially more so if they go upper management. Short term (within the first 10 years) the operator can make more than an engineer by working OT. But by the 20-30th years, the engineer will be doubling the operator base salary if not more.

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How much does an operator make vs. a chemical engineer at a well established plant

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About the same, but the engineer works 500 less hours and work 7-4.

150k?

With what, 1200 hours of OT?

Operators start at 50k/yr (straight time) whereas an engineer will start at 80k/yr. 10 years down the road the operator makes 80k (straight time) whereas the engineer can be anywhere between 100 - 300k depending on performance and promotions. Engineers who perform better and are promotable will be in the higher number. Low performers in the lower number.

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No, they dont. Not until they get a lot of experience or responsibility.

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Yes they do

A ChemE with 5 years of experience is probably making easily in that range after bonuses.

I’m not sure what they start out at.

I work in engineering at a plant, but I’m not process.

They make a little less and put in about 2/3rds of the hours.

Operators - 120-150k working 12 hour shifts, nights, weekends and holidays.

Engineers - 100-130k, before bonus, working 8-9 hours a day, no weekends, no nights and no holidays (except for turnaround). This is for someone with less than 10 years experience. Those with more are getting into manager roles where they make bigger salaries and much bigger bonuses.


I'd rather be an engineer. Biggest difference, imo, is that an engineer will generally only work nights during turnaround, whereas operators are constantly switching between nights and days year round.