Butchers, Retail vs Chemical Plant Operators
Median pay is about $38k higher for Chemical Plant Operators. The usual entry education is no formal credential for Butchers, Retail and high school for Chemical Plant Operators.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Butchers, Retail | Chemical Plant Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $40,140 | $78,120, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $35,510 | $60,330, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $48,050 | $98,660, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +2.4% Growing, higher | -5.2% Declining |
| Openings a year | 15,100 | 1,300 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | No formal credential | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 1.6 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 27th pct | 15th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.