Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Production Occupations · 26K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$48,540
Median hourly
$23
Average annual
$51,380
Typical range
$36,520–$69,240
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $48,540 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $23 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber..
Most earn between $36,520 and $69,240 a year. There are roughly 26K people employed as crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
- Hourly
- $23.34
- Daily
- $187
- Weekly
- $933
- Bi-weekly
- $1,867
- Monthly
- $4,045
- Annual
- $48,540
$48,540 a year is around the 50th percentile for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenderss. The median is $48,540.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Duluth, MN-WI$84,310
- 2Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN$66,800
- 3Corpus Christi, TX$66,540
- 4Sandusky, OH$65,240
- 5Cedar Rapids, IA$64,670
- 6Chambersburg, PA$64,190
- 7Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$63,970
- 8Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$63,800
- 9Omaha, NE-IA$61,950
- 10Ogden, UT$61,860
- 11Medford, OR$61,830
- 12Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$59,930
Related job titles
Employers advertise Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$42,660
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,550
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers$41,220
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,380
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,570
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,760
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,990
What a Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders does
- Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
- Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
- Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
- Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
- Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
- Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
- The median annual wage for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $48,540 ($23 per hour). Pay ranges from about $36,520 at the 10th percentile to $69,240 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $51,380, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenderss the most?
- Wyoming has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $71,300.
- Is Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 26K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders do?
- Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.; Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.; Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements..