Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · California

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in California

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California earn a median annual wage of $45,890 —1.4% below the national median of $46,550. That ranks CA #26 of 48 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$45,890
Median hourly
$22.06
Entry level (P10)
$36,510
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$62,630
90th percentile
Employment
7,800
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-1.4%
U.S. $46,550

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$36,510
$39,440
$45,890
$53,820
$36,510$45,890$62,630
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $45,890.

Employment concentration (0.99×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

All 48 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Oregon$57,290$27.541,1801.40
2Minnesota$51,780$24.901,4001.10
3Massachusetts$50,910$24.482,4201.54
4Vermont$50,640$24.353002.27
5West Virginia$49,950$24.022000.68
6Washington$49,300$23.701,8701.22
7New York$49,290$23.702,4100.58
8Kentucky$49,160$23.638500.99
9Connecticut$48,590$23.361,5302.09
10Nebraska$48,500$23.323000.67

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in California?

The median annual wage for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California is $45,890, or $22.06 per hour. That is 1.4% below the national median of $46,550.

What is the entry-level grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $36,510 per year ($17.55/hour). The 25th percentile is $39,440.

How many people work as grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California?

About 7,800 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

California ranks #26 of 48 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.99x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?

Oregon has the highest median wage at $57,290 per year, followed by Minnesota ($51,780) and Massachusetts ($50,910).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes