Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in the U.S.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the U.S. earn a median of $46,550 a year ($22.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 67,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,600 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $48,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| 25th percentile | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Median | $46,550 | $22.38 |
| 75th percentile | $54,290 | $26.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| Average (mean) | $48,170 | $23.16 |
Half of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,879.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,939.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,790.38 |
| Weekly | $895.19 |
| Hourly | $22.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,550 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $57,290 | 1,180 |
| Minnesota | $51,780 | 1,400 |
| Massachusetts | $50,910 | 2,420 |
| Vermont | $50,640 | 300 |
| West Virginia | $49,950 | 200 |
| Washington | $49,300 | 1,870 |
| New York | $49,290 | 2,410 |
| Kentucky | $49,160 | 850 |
| Connecticut | $48,590 | 1,530 |
| Nebraska | $48,500 | 300 |
| South Carolina | $48,040 | 1,730 |
| North Carolina | $47,770 | 1,610 |
| North Dakota | $47,670 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $47,650 | 3,830 |
| Wisconsin | $47,330 | 3,570 |
| Indiana | $47,310 | 4,170 |
| Maine | $47,230 | 170 |
| Wyoming | $46,800 | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $46,580 | 600 |
| Iowa | $46,380 | 890 |
| Missouri | $46,270 | 1,210 |
| Illinois | $46,180 | 4,100 |
| Nevada | $46,140 | 170 |
| Colorado | $46,120 | 500 |
| Idaho | $45,980 | 170 |
| California | $45,890 | 7,800 |
| Georgia | $45,850 | 940 |
| Michigan | $45,460 | 4,180 |
| Ohio | $45,270 | 5,960 |
| Arizona | $44,990 | 670 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 | 1,340 |
| New Jersey | $44,450 | 860 |
| Delaware | $44,390 | 50 |
| Utah | $44,320 | 400 |
| Rhode Island | $43,650 | 140 |
| Maryland | $43,530 | 160 |
| Virginia | $43,170 | 620 |
| Kansas | $42,710 | 1,010 |
| Mississippi | $42,660 | 430 |
| Texas | $42,250 | 2,960 |
| Montana | $41,740 | 160 |
| Florida | $40,310 | 1,020 |
| Arkansas | $39,590 | 340 |
| South Dakota | $39,060 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $38,650 | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $38,570 | 870 |
| Alabama | $38,170 | 1,500 |
| New Mexico | $38,020 | 30 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,400 | 60 |
Best-paying metro areas for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $67,210 | 350 |
| Bend, OR | $60,180 | 40 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $59,750 | 460 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $58,680 | 930 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $57,420 | 130 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $57,110 | 50 |
| Sandusky, OH | $56,670 | 120 |
| Rochester, MN | $55,990 | 30 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $55,590 | 70 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $55,080 | 190 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $53,930 | 1,050 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $53,620 | 50 |
| Reading, PA | $53,090 | 350 |
| Tyler, TX | $52,880 | 50 |
| Springfield, MA | $52,660 | 350 |
Metro areas with the most grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,920 | $45,440 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,110 | $46,420 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,630 | $51,070 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,620 | $45,440 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,290 | $43,280 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,210 | $46,360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,180 | $48,690 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,080 | $47,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,050 | $53,930 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,000 | $51,990 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 930 | $58,680 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 830 | $43,130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 830 | $49,230 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 810 | $41,150 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 790 | $47,680 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4033. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median salary for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $46,550 a year, or $22.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. earn at least $62,600 a year. The top 25% earn $54,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,110 a year, and a quarter of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $39,390 or less.
How many grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in the U.S.?
About 67,000 grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.