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 in the U.S. is $46,550 ($22.38 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $46,550
- Mean annual wage
- $48,170
- Median hourly wage
- $22.38
- Employment
- 67,000
67,000 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| 25th percentile | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Median (50th) | $46,550 | $22.38 |
| 75th percentile | $54,290 | $26.10 |
| 90th percentile | $62,600 | $30.10 |
Highest-paying states for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Lowest-paying states
- New Mexico: $38,020 median annual wage
- Alabama: $38,170 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $38,570 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $38,650 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $39,060 median annual wage
About this occupation
Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.
Typical tasks
- Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
- Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
- Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
- Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic workpieces.
- Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required.
- Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 27.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 45.2% |
| Some college, no degree | 17.0% |
| Associate's degree | 5.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 5.0% |
| Master's degree | 0.6% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.