SOC 51-4033 · Production Occupations

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

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$46,550

U.S. median hourly wage$22.38

U.S. employment67,000

Nationally, grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earned a median of $46,550 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 67,000 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: pay and employment by state
State
Oregon	$57,290	$27.54	1,180	0.6
Minnesota	$51,780	$24.90	1,400	0.5
Massachusetts	$50,910	$24.48	2,420	0.7
Vermont	$50,640	$24.35	300	1.0
West Virginia	$49,950	$24.02	200	0.3
Washington	$49,300	$23.70	1,870	0.5
New York	$49,290	$23.70	2,410	0.2
Kentucky	$49,160	$23.63	850	0.4
Connecticut	$48,590	$23.36	1,530	0.9
Nebraska	$48,500	$23.32	300	0.3
South Carolina	$48,040	$23.10	1,730	0.8
North Carolina	$47,770	$22.97	1,610	0.3
North Dakota	$47,670	$22.92	Not published	Not published
Pennsylvania	$47,650	$22.91	3,830	0.6
Wisconsin	$47,330	$22.76	3,570	1.2
Indiana	$47,310	$22.74	4,170	1.3
Maine	$47,230	$22.71	170	0.3
Wyoming	$46,800	$22.50	30	0.1
New Hampshire	$46,580	$22.40	600	0.9
Iowa	$46,380	$22.30	890	0.6
Missouri	$46,270	$22.25	1,210	0.4
Illinois	$46,180	$22.20	4,100	0.7
Nevada	$46,140	$22.18	170	0.1
Colorado	$46,120	$22.17	500	0.2
Idaho	$45,980	$22.11	170	0.2
California	$45,890	$22.06	7,800	0.4
Georgia	$45,850	$22.04	940	0.2
Michigan	$45,460	$21.85	4,180	0.9
Ohio	$45,270	$21.76	5,960	1.1
Arizona	$44,990	$21.63	670	0.2
Tennessee	$44,710	$21.50	1,340	0.4
New Jersey	$44,450	$21.37	860	0.2
Delaware	$44,390	$21.34	50	0.1
Utah	$44,320	$21.31	400	0.2
Rhode Island	$43,650	$20.99	140	0.3
Maryland	$43,530	$20.93	160	0.1
Virginia	$43,170	$20.76	620	0.2
Kansas	$42,710	$20.53	1,010	0.7
Mississippi	$42,660	$20.51	430	0.4
Texas	$42,250	$20.31	2,960	0.2
Montana	$41,740	$20.07	160	0.3
Florida	$40,310	$19.38	1,020	0.1
Arkansas	$39,590	$19.03	340	0.3
South Dakota	$39,060	$18.78	130	0.3
Louisiana	$38,650	$18.58	160	0.1
Oklahoma	$38,570	$18.54	870	0.5
Alabama	$38,170	$18.35	1,500	0.7
New Mexico	$38,020	$18.28	30	0.0
Puerto Rico	$31,400	$15.10	60	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 185 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Canton-Massillon, OH	$67,210	$32.31	350	2.1
Bend, OR	$60,180	$28.93	40	0.4
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	$59,750	$28.73	460	7.3
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$58,680	$28.21	930	0.8
Utica-Rome, NY	$57,420	$27.61	130	1.1
St. Cloud, MN	$57,110	$27.46	50	0.5
Sandusky, OH	$56,670	$27.25	120	2.3
Rochester, MN	$55,990	$26.92	30	0.3
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$55,590	$26.73	70	0.5
Spartanburg, SC	$55,080	$26.48	190	1.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$53,930	$25.93	1,050	0.5
Longview-Kelso, WA	$53,620	$25.78	50	1.2
Reading, PA	$53,090	$25.53	350	2.0
Tyler, TX	$52,880	$25.42	50	0.4
Springfield, MA	$52,660	$25.32	350	1.7
Sheboygan, WI	$52,310	$25.15	200	3.3
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$51,990	$25.00	1,000	0.5
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$51,930	$24.96	180	0.4
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$51,070	$24.56	1,630	0.6
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$51,000	$24.52	700	0.5
Saginaw, MI	$50,880	$24.46	30	0.4
Albany, OR	$50,840	$24.44	180	3.8
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$50,760	$24.40	70	0.3
Janesville-Beloit, WI	$50,650	$24.35	50	0.8
Asheville, NC	$50,400	$24.23	90	0.5
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$50,300	$24.18	40	0.7
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$50,280	$24.17	70	0.6
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$50,130	$24.10	700	1.2
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$49,680	$23.88	150	0.4
Portland-South Portland, ME	$49,640	$23.87	80	0.3
Appleton, WI	$49,500	$23.80	100	0.8
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$49,430	$23.77	100	1.2
Peoria, IL	$49,300	$23.70	260	1.6
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$49,230	$23.67	830	0.7
Eau Claire, WI	$49,010	$23.56	120	1.3
Richmond, VA	$48,960	$23.54	100	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$48,690	$23.41	1,180	0.1
Pueblo, CO	$48,640	$23.38	50	0.7
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$48,630	$23.38	280	0.8
Dubuque, IA	$48,620	$23.37	70	1.3
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$48,620	$23.37	220	0.3
New Haven, CT	$48,570	$23.35	200	0.7
Pittsburgh, PA	$48,530	$23.33	680	0.6
Lincoln, NE	$48,500	$23.32	50	0.3
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$48,390	$23.26	140	1.5
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$48,370	$23.26	460	1.2
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$48,320	$23.23	650	0.3
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$47,890	$23.03	200	0.7
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$47,860	$23.01	410	0.6
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$47,750	$22.96	1,080	1.3
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$47,680	$22.92	790	0.7
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$47,650	$22.91	240	0.1
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$47,650	$22.91	710	0.2
Vallejo, CA	$47,630	$22.90	60	0.4
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$47,530	$22.85	150	0.1
Waco, TX	$47,480	$22.83	50	0.4
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$47,440	$22.81	220	1.7
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$47,440	$22.81	170	0.4
Syracuse, NY	$47,420	$22.80	320	1.1
Florence, SC	$47,380	$22.78	60	0.7
Lancaster, PA	$47,350	$22.76	190	0.8
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$47,320	$22.75	150	0.2
Madison, WI	$47,220	$22.70	310	0.8
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$47,170	$22.68	160	0.9
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$47,170	$22.68	50	0.2
Green Bay, WI	$46,790	$22.50	150	0.9
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$46,760	$22.48	110	0.1
Reno, NV	$46,760	$22.48	60	0.2
Kenosha, WI	$46,740	$22.47	70	1.0
Jackson, MI	$46,730	$22.47	200	3.5
Binghamton, NY	$46,720	$22.46	50	0.5
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$46,700	$22.45	70	0.2
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$46,680	$22.44	340	1.3
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$46,670	$22.44	310	0.3
Omaha, NE-IA	$46,590	$22.40	30	0.1
Fort Wayne, IN	$46,530	$22.37	200	0.9
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$46,490	$22.35	330	0.1
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$46,420	$22.32	3,110	0.7
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$46,400	$22.31	90	0.7
Roanoke, VA	$46,390	$22.30	40	0.2
Terre Haute, IN	$46,370	$22.29	60	1.0
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$46,360	$22.29	1,210	0.6
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$46,290	$22.25	380	0.7
St. Louis, MO-IL	$46,230	$22.23	740	0.6
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	$46,230	$22.23	40	0.8
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	$46,220	$22.22	50	0.7
Worcester, MA	$46,210	$22.21	310	0.9
Springfield, MO	$46,170	$22.20	180	0.8
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$46,160	$22.19	500	0.3
Carson City, NV	$46,140	$22.18	40	1.2
Yakima, WA	$46,020	$22.13	40	0.4
Cedar Rapids, IA	$45,990	$22.11	30	0.2
Fond du Lac, WI	$45,850	$22.04	40	1.0
Columbia, SC	$45,780	$22.01	220	0.6
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$45,620	$21.93	90	0.1
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	$45,560	$21.90	70	0.9
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$45,500	$21.87	40	0.1
Cleveland, OH	$45,440	$21.85	1,620	1.6
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$45,440	$21.85	3,920	0.6
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$45,430	$21.84	80	0.4
Erie, PA	$45,390	$21.82	320	2.7
Toledo, OH	$45,350	$21.81	230	0.8
Akron, OH	$45,330	$21.79	450	1.4
Mansfield, OH	$45,250	$21.76	80	1.7
Evansville, IN	$45,230	$21.74	60	0.5
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$45,190	$21.73	110	0.3
Coeur d'Alene, ID	$45,140	$21.70	50	0.7
Lewiston, ID-WA	$45,130	$21.70	50	1.7
Rochester, NY	$45,110	$21.69	330	0.7
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$45,100	$21.68	70	0.2
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$45,050	$21.66	140	0.1
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$45,030	$21.65	170	0.8
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$45,030	$21.65	300	1.9
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$44,960	$21.62	70	0.1
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$44,960	$21.61	520	0.2
Tucson, AZ	$44,930	$21.60	80	0.2
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$44,900	$21.59	530	0.5
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$44,890	$21.58	120	0.3
Kansas City, MO-KS	$44,860	$21.57	300	0.3
Modesto, CA	$44,780	$21.53	70	0.4
Columbus, OH	$44,650	$21.47	460	0.4
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$44,580	$21.43	220	0.7
Rockford, IL	$44,580	$21.43	310	2.3
York-Hanover, PA	$44,450	$21.37	210	1.2
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$44,340	$21.32	160	1.2
Springfield, OH	$44,270	$21.28	90	2.0
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$44,160	$21.23	100	0.3
Kankakee, IL	$44,130	$21.21	40	0.8
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$44,100	$21.20	130	0.6
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$43,960	$21.13	520	1.4
Monroe, MI	$43,680	$21.00	90	2.3
Morristown, TN	$43,680	$21.00	30	0.7
Elmira, NY	$43,620	$20.97	40	1.1
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$43,280	$20.81	1,290	0.4
Columbus, IN	$43,240	$20.79	120	2.5
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$43,130	$20.74	830	0.5
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$42,700	$20.53	640	0.2
Colorado Springs, CO	$42,420	$20.40	50	0.2
Wichita, KS	$42,370	$20.37	480	1.6
Greeley, CO	$42,330	$20.35	60	0.5
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$42,250	$20.31	150	0.1
Killeen-Temple, TX	$41,490	$19.95	40	0.3
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$41,150	$19.78	810	1.4
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$41,050	$19.74	170	1.1
Battle Creek, MI	$40,610	$19.52	50	0.8
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$40,600	$19.52	70	0.0
Wausau, WI	$40,580	$19.51	160	2.4
Ann Arbor, MI	$40,500	$19.47	50	0.2
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$40,310	$19.38	230	0.2
Fresno, CA	$40,040	$19.25	100	0.2
Niles, MI	$40,000	$19.23	140	2.3
Clarksville, TN-KY	$39,770	$19.12	90	0.9
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$39,720	$19.09	110	0.7
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$39,440	$18.96	90	0.4
Traverse City, MI	$39,420	$18.95	50	0.7
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$39,300	$18.89	100	0.6
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$39,240	$18.87	40	0.2
Knoxville, TN	$39,170	$18.83	130	0.3
Anniston-Oxford, AL	$39,080	$18.79	110	2.5
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$39,080	$18.79	50	0.2
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	$39,050	$18.78	170	4.1
Mobile, AL	$38,900	$18.70	40	0.2
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$38,890	$18.70	160	0.6
Montgomery, AL	$38,790	$18.65	70	0.4
Wilmington, NC	$38,720	$18.62	40	0.2
Jacksonville, FL	$38,670	$18.59	70	0.1
Tulsa, OK	$38,570	$18.54	370	0.8
El Paso, TX	$38,540	$18.53	30	0.1
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	$38,500	$18.51	90	0.7
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$38,220	$18.38	180	0.1
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$37,960	$18.25	80	0.1
Flint, MI	$37,910	$18.23	50	0.3
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	$37,750	$18.15	70	0.6
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$37,590	$18.07	40	0.4
Lynchburg, VA	$37,110	$17.84	50	0.5
Winston-Salem, NC	$37,040	$17.81	40	0.2
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$36,830	$17.71	50	0.1
Ogden, UT	$36,710	$17.65	70	0.3
Huntsville, AL	$36,520	$17.56	200	0.7
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$36,520	$17.56	40	0.1
Birmingham, AL	$36,180	$17.39	400	0.8
Oklahoma City, OK	$36,040	$17.33	150	0.2
Baton Rouge, LA	$35,790	$17.21	50	0.1
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$28,700	$13.80	40	0.1
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	Not published	Not published	150	1.2

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.