Subgroup (813) - 2026-Q1
The workforce of Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical during first quarter of 2026 was 390k people, whose salary averaged $8.09k MX working around 43.1 hours per week.
The average age of Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical was 37.2 years. The workforce was distributed in 53.7% men with an average salary of $7.64k MX and, 46.3% women with average salary of $8.61k MX.
The best average salaries received by Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical were in Baja California Sur ($22.2k MX), Tabasco ($20.1k MX), and Oaxaca ($19.4k MX) while the workforce was larger in Baja California (54.2k), Estado de México (52.2k), and Jalisco (33.3k).
In terms of industries, the best average salaries were in Regulation and Promotion of Economic Developmen ($24k MX), Regulation and Promotion of Economic Development ($24k MX), and Foundations, Prefabricated Structures Assembly and Exterior Construction Works ($9.03k MX), while the workforce was concentrated on Waste Collection (3.78k), Natural Gas Supply through Mains to Final Consumers (2.93k), and Retail Trade of Automobiles and Pickup Trucks (2.52k).
24.9% of the total informal workers correspond to women with an average salary of $2.87k MX and 75.1% to men with an average salary of $6.32k MX.
At the level of states, Yucatán had the highest percentage of informal workers with 21.9% corresponding to 353 from 1.61k workers, while the state with the lowest percentage of informal workers was Coahuila de Zaragoza with a 0.43% corresponding to 80 from 18.8k workers.
At first quarter of 2026, the people who worked as Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical were 390k being a 4.15% lower than the fourth quarter of 2025. (407k).
In the same period, an average salary of $8.09k MX was observed, registering an increase of 25.2%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 ($6.46k MX).
The states with the highest number of Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical during the first quarter of 2026 were Baja California (54.2k), Estado de México (52.2k), and Jalisco (33.3k)
Comparing the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, the main positive variations occurred in Ciudad de México and Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave with an increase of 6.81k (58.6%) and 6.31k (54.2%), respectively. On the other hand, the negative variations were accentuated in Estado de México and Hidalgo with a decrease of 20k (27.6%) and 9.92k (74.1%), respectively.
The states with the best average salaries for Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical during first quarter of 2026 were Baja California Sur ($22.2k MX), Tabasco ($20.1k MX), and Oaxaca ($19.4k MX)
Comparing the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, the positive salary growth was higher in Oaxaca and Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave with an increase of $10.6k MX (120%) and $9.51k MX (756%), respectively. Por otro lado, las variaciones salariales negativas se acentuaron en Sinaloa and Zacatecas with a decrease of $2.54k MX (22%) and $1.97k MX (19.6%), respectively.
Average Age 2026-Q1
At first quarter of 2026, the male workforce in Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical represented the 53.7% of the employed population and women 46.3%. The male workforce was higher in the age group of 25 to 34 years (57.3k), while the female workforce was higher in the age group of 35 to 44 years (50.5k).
The highest average salary was $9.75k MX received by women from 45 to 54 years, while the lowest average salary was $6.86k MX received by men from 35 to 44 years.
* The data regarding salaries have low statistical precision so it should not be used as conclusions.
Average Schooling in Years (2026-Q1)
At first quarter of 2026 the male workforce in Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical was higher in the educational segment with 10 to 12 years of schooling (94.4k), while the female workforce was higher in the educational segment with 7 to 9 years of schooling (88.2k).
The highest average salary was $8.56k MX received by men with 16 to 18 years of schooling, while the lowest average salary was $6.97k MX received by men with 10 to 12 years of schooling.
* The data regarding salaries have low statistical precision so it should not be used as conclusions.
The visualization shows the distribution of Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical in different industries and economic sectors.
At first quarter of 2026, the workforce was higher in Waste Collection (36%), Natural Gas Supply through Mains to Final Consumers (28%), and Retail Trade of Automobiles and Pickup Trucks (24%).
In the same period, the best average salaries were received in Regulation and Promotion of Economic Developmen ($24k MX), Regulation and Promotion of Economic Development ($24k MX), and Foundations, Prefabricated Structures Assembly and Exterior Construction Works ($9.03k MX).
Labor Informality 2026-Q1
During the first quarter of 2026, the labor informality of Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical reached a 3.7%, which implied an increase from 0.84 percentage points compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (2.86%).
The labor informality of this occupation was lower than informality at the country level in 51.1 percentage points during the first quarter of 2026.
Greater Labor Informality: 21.9%, Yucatán
Less Labor Informality: 0.43 %, Coahuila de Zaragoza
At first quarter of 2026, the states with the highest rate of labor informality in Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical were Yucatán (21.9%), Ciudad de México (16.8%), and Puebla (12.9%).
The states with the lowest informality rate were Nuevo León (0.8%), Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (0.57%), and Coahuila de Zaragoza (0.43%).
The workforce of Machinery and Equipment Operators in Production of Chemicals, Plastics, Water Treatment and Petrochemical during the first quarter of 2026 was higher in the age group with 25 to 34 years concentrating 106k workers of which 98% corresponds to formal employment (104k) and 1.95% to informal employment (2.08k).
Regarding the schooling years, the workforce was higher in the range with 7 to 9 years of schooling concentrating 159k workers of which 95.8% corresponds to formal employment (152k) and 4.21% corresponds to informal employment (6.68k).