Chemical Plant Worker

A chemical plant worker operates and monitors equipment in a chemical manufacturing or processing facility, performing routine production tasks under the supervision of technicians or operators. The role involves loading raw materials, controlling process parameters, collecting samples, and maintaining equipment to ensure safe and efficient chemical production in compliance with workplace health and safety legislation.

Load raw materials and chemical feedstocks into reactors, mixers, or distillation columns using funnels, pumps, or automated dosing systems. Monitor gauges, digital displays, and SCADA systems to track temperature, pressure, flow rates, and chemical concentrations during production runs. Operate pumps, compressors, and valves to transfer liquids or gases between vessels following written procedures and production schedules. Collect product and process samples at designated intervals using sterile containers and labelling systems for laboratory analysis. Inspect equipment daily for leaks, corrosion, loose fittings, or other defects and report maintenance requirements to supervisors. Clean and maintain production equipment, pipework, and vessels using appropriate cleaning agents and pressure washers between batches. Don personal protective equipment including respirators, chemical-resistant suits, and safety footwear when entering hazardous areas or handling toxic substances. Record production data, batch numbers, material quantities, and equipment readings in logbooks or computerised production records.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education (ABS skill level 5). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll likely stay in entry-level roles unless you get a Certificate III or higher qualification. The work involves toxic chemicals and hazardous conditions, so you need to follow strict safety rules or risk serious injury or illness. Shift work including nights and weekends is common. Pay is modest for the risk involved.

Job availability depends heavily on where chemical plants are operating. Remote work is not an option. Some regional areas have stronger opportunities than capital cities.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 8399, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Calculate materials to build equipment
• Clean building floors
• Clean equipment
• Clean surfaces
• Cleaning products
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Goods Receipt Processing
• Record Management
• Workload Self-Management
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026