Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Appleton, WI
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $49,500 a year ($23.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,890 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $46,550. Pay here is 5% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $47,330. There are 0.84 grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,170, 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 Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| 25th percentile | $45,430 | $21.84 |
| Median | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| 75th percentile | $56,140 | $26.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Average (mean) | $51,170 | $24.60 |
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 | $4,125 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,062.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,903.85 |
| Weekly | $951.92 |
| Hourly | $23.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin 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 in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | $52,310 | 200 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $51,990 | 1,000 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $50,650 | 50 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $49,010 | 120 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $48,390 | 140 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,750 | 1,080 |
| Madison, WI | $47,220 | 310 |
| Green Bay, WI | $46,790 | 150 |
| Kenosha, WI | $46,740 | 70 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $45,850 | 40 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $45,560 | 70 |
| Wausau, WI | $40,580 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $57,290 |
| Minnesota | $51,780 |
| Massachusetts | $50,910 |
| Vermont | $50,640 |
| West Virginia | $49,950 |
| Washington | $49,300 |
| New York | $49,290 |
| Kentucky | $49,160 |
| Connecticut | $48,590 |
| Nebraska | $48,500 |
See Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| Machinist | $60,350 | $29.02 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $61,960 | $29.79 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,990 | $24.03 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $42,340 | $20.36 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Food Batchmaker | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,240 | $37.14 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,930 | $24.01 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,550 | $28.63 |
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 Appleton, WI?
The median salary for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the Appleton, WI metro area is $49,500 a year, or $23.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,890 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 Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $67,890 a year. The top 25% earn $56,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,150 a year, and a quarter of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $45,430 or less.
How many grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in Appleton, WI?
About 100 grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.