Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
Production Occupations · 67K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$46,550
Median hourly
$22
Average annual
$48,170
Typical range
$36,110–$62,600
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $46,550 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 $22 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $36,110 and $62,600 a year. There are roughly 67K people employed as grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 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 Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
- Hourly
- $22.38
- Daily
- $179
- Weekly
- $895
- Bi-weekly
- $1,790
- Monthly
- $3,879
- Annual
- $46,550
$46,550 a year is around the 50th percentile for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics. The median is $46,550.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Oregon$57,290
- 2Minnesota$51,780
- 3Massachusetts$50,910
- 4Vermont$50,640
- 5West Virginia$49,950
- 6Washington$49,300
- 7New York$49,290
- 8Kentucky$49,160
- 9Connecticut$48,590
- 10Nebraska$48,500
- 11South Carolina$48,040
- 12North Carolina$47,770
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Canton-Massillon, OH$67,210
- 2Bend, OR$60,180
- 3Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI$59,750
- 4Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$58,680
- 5Utica-Rome, NY$57,420
- 6St. Cloud, MN$57,110
- 7Sandusky, OH$56,670
- 8Rochester, MN$55,990
- 9Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH$55,590
- 10Spartanburg, SC$55,080
- 11Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$53,930
- 12Longview-Kelso, WA$53,620
Related job titles
Employers advertise Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$42,660
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,380
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,800
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,570
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,540
What a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic does
- Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
- Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
- Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
- Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
- Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
- Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements.
- Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.
- Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a 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 is $46,550 ($22 per hour). Pay ranges from about $36,110 at the 10th percentile to $62,600 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $48,170, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics the most?
- Oregon has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $57,290.
- Is Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 67K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic do?
- Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.; Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.; Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems..