Wages, chemical processing industry

In general, operating labor may be divided into skilled and unskilled labor. Hourly wage rates for operating labor in different industries at various locations can be obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Monthly Labor Review. For chemical processes, operating labor usually amounts to about 15 percent of the total product cost. 

In our modem economic society, prices may vary widely from one period to another, and this factor must be considered when the costs for an industrial process are determined. It would obviously be ridiculous to assume that plant operators or supervisors could be hired today at the same wage rate as in 1975. The same statement applies to comparing prices of equipment purchased at different times. The chemical engineer, therefore, must keep up-to-date on price and wage fluctuations. One of the most complete sources of information on existing price conditions is the Monthly Labor Review published by the U S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This publication gives up-to-date information on present prices and wages for different types of industries. 

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