Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is $46,550, or $22.38 per hour. About 67,000 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $57,290 in Oregon to $38,020 in New Mexico.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 48 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $57,290 | $27.54 | 1,180 | 1.40 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $51,780 | $24.90 | 1,400 | 1.10 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $50,910 | $24.48 | 2,420 | 1.54 |
| 4 | Vermont | $50,640 | $24.35 | 300 | 2.27 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $49,950 | $24.02 | 200 | 0.68 |
| 6 | Washington | $49,300 | $23.70 | 1,870 | 1.22 |
| 7 | New York | $49,290 | $23.70 | 2,410 | 0.58 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $49,160 | $23.63 | 850 | 0.99 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $48,590 | $23.36 | 1,530 | 2.09 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $48,500 | $23.32 | 300 | 0.67 |
| 11 | South Carolina | $48,040 | $23.10 | 1,730 | 1.74 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $47,770 | $22.97 | 1,610 | 0.76 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $47,670 | $22.92 | — | — |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $47,650 | $22.91 | 3,830 | 1.47 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $47,330 | $22.76 | 3,570 | 2.82 |
| 16 | Indiana | $47,310 | $22.74 | 4,170 | 3.02 |
| 17 | Maine | $47,230 | $22.71 | 170 | 0.62 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $46,800 | $22.50 | 30 | 0.28 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $46,580 | $22.40 | 600 | 2.03 |
| 20 | Iowa | $46,380 | $22.30 | 890 | 1.32 |
| 21 | Missouri | $46,270 | $22.25 | 1,210 | 0.96 |
| 22 | Illinois | $46,180 | $22.20 | 4,100 | 1.56 |
| 23 | Nevada | $46,140 | $22.18 | 170 | 0.26 |
| 24 | Colorado | $46,120 | $22.17 | 500 | 0.40 |
| 25 | Idaho | $45,980 | $22.11 | 170 | 0.47 |
| 26 | California | $45,890 | $22.06 | 7,800 | 0.99 |
| 27 | Georgia | $45,850 | $22.04 | 940 | 0.45 |
| 28 | Michigan | $45,460 | $21.85 | 4,180 | 2.20 |
| 29 | Ohio | $45,270 | $21.76 | 5,960 | 2.49 |
| 30 | Arizona | $44,990 | $21.63 | 670 | 0.48 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $44,710 | $21.50 | 1,340 | 0.95 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $44,450 | $21.37 | 860 | 0.46 |
| 33 | Delaware | $44,390 | $21.34 | 50 | 0.25 |
| 34 | Utah | $44,320 | $21.31 | 400 | 0.54 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $43,650 | $20.99 | 140 | 0.65 |
| 36 | Maryland | $43,530 | $20.93 | 160 | 0.14 |
| 37 | Virginia | $43,170 | $20.76 | 620 | 0.35 |
| 38 | Kansas | $42,710 | $20.53 | 1,010 | 1.64 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $42,660 | $20.51 | 430 | 0.86 |
| 40 | Texas | $42,250 | $20.31 | 2,960 | 0.49 |
| 41 | Montana | $41,740 | $20.07 | 160 | 0.71 |
| 42 | Florida | $40,310 | $19.38 | 1,020 | 0.24 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $39,590 | $19.03 | 340 | 0.61 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $39,060 | $18.78 | 130 | 0.66 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $38,650 | $18.58 | 160 | 0.19 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $38,570 | $18.54 | 870 | 1.18 |
| 47 | Alabama | $38,170 | $18.35 | 1,500 | 1.65 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $38,020 | $18.28 | 30 | 0.09 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?
The median annual wage for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the United States is $46,550, or $22.38 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $36,110, and the top 10% earn $62,600.
How many grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the U.S.?
About 67,000 people work as grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic nationwide.
Which state pays grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?
Oregon pays the most at a median of $57,290, followed by Minnesota ($51,780) and Massachusetts ($50,910).
Which state pays grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the least?
New Mexico has the lowest median at $38,020.
Where are grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Indiana at 3.02×.