Average Salary for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4033 · Production Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $45,190 ($21.73/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $34,980 at the 10th percentile to $61,550 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 70,110 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 38.4% since 2014.
Median Annual
$45,190
Mean Annual
$46,600
10th Pct
$34,980
75th Pct
$51,380
Employment
70,110
Salary Distribution
$35k
10th
$38k
25th
$45k
Median
$51k
75th
$62k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $58,920 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $55,580 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $55,410 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $55,280 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $53,350 |
| Asheville, NC | $53,180 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $52,850 |
| Wilmington, NC | $52,280 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $51,880 |
| Springfield, MA | $51,670 |
| Reading, PA | $51,380 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $51,360 |
| Pueblo, CO | $50,940 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $50,850 |
| Tyler, TX | $50,530 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Missouri | $58,920 |
| Oregon | $51,850 |
| Minnesota | $49,180 |
| Vermont | $49,160 |
| Massachusetts | $48,690 |
| South Carolina | $48,210 |
| Washington | $47,550 |
| Connecticut | $47,480 |
| North Carolina | $47,470 |
| Nebraska | $46,730 |
| Idaho | $46,690 |
| Wisconsin | $46,570 |
| Maine | $46,420 |
| North Dakota | $46,170 |
| Illinois | $45,970 |
| New York | $45,910 |
| California | $45,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,550 |
| Colorado | $45,460 |
| Wyoming | $45,450 |
| Tennessee | $45,380 |
| Virginia | $45,330 |
| Iowa | $44,920 |
| Indiana | $44,610 |
| New Hampshire | $44,460 |
| Arizona | $44,120 |
| Georgia | $43,930 |
| Louisiana | $42,990 |
| Utah | $42,920 |
| Michigan | $41,600 |
| Kentucky | $41,450 |
| Ohio | $41,420 |
| Mississippi | $41,410 |
| Nevada | $40,960 |
| Rhode Island | $40,600 |
| Kansas | $40,500 |
| Maryland | $40,330 |
| South Dakota | $40,190 |
| Oklahoma | $39,690 |
| Arkansas | $39,450 |
| Texas | $39,000 |
| Alabama | $38,910 |
| Florida | $38,710 |
| New Jersey | $38,190 |
| Montana | $38,090 |
| West Virginia | $37,490 |
| New Mexico | $36,800 |
| Delaware | $32,390 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,230 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $72,680 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $68,330 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $55,410 |
| Retail Trade | $54,560 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $51,380 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $51,350 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $51,350 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $50,480 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $50,370 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $50,040 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $49,770 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $49,770 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $49,770 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $48,670 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $48,190 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $48,170 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $48,000 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $47,840 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $47,770 |
| Engineering Services | $47,770 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $47,770 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $47,770 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $47,500 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $47,490 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $47,380 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $47,310 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $47,010 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $46,870 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $46,380 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $46,290 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $46,020 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $45,860 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $45,850 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | $45,830 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $45,760 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $45,740 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $45,500 |
| Manufacturing | $45,470 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $45,190 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $45,100 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $44,810 |
| Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $44,810 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $44,410 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $44,300 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $44,140 |
| Machine Shops | $44,050 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $43,980 |
| Foundries | $43,590 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $42,020 |
| Food Manufacturing | $42,020 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $41,920 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $41,810 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $41,810 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | $41,600 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $41,570 |
| Construction | $41,520 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $41,500 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $40,930 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $40,860 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $40,460 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $40,030 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | $39,840 |
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | $39,280 |
| Wholesale Trade | $38,030 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $38,030 |
| Temporary Help Services | $37,990 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $37,990 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $37,980 |
| Employment Services | $37,950 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | $37,460 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $36,560 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $35,570 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $45,190 |
| 2023 | $42,610 |
| 2022 | $38,910 |
| 2021 | $37,550 |
| 2020 | $36,880 |
| 2019 | $36,100 |
| 2018 | $34,850 |
| 2017 | $33,480 |
| 2016 | $32,890 |
| 2015 | $32,840 |
| 2014 | $32,660 |