Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,550 | $22.38 |
| Mean (average) | $48,170 | $23.16 |
| 90th percentile | $62,600 | $30.10 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,170 | $29,340 | $56,180 | 1,500 | 1.65 |
| Arizona | $44,990 | $37,340 | $57,060 | 670 | 0.48 |
| Arkansas | $39,590 | $33,690 | $50,490 | 340 | 0.61 |
| California | $45,890 | $36,510 | $62,630 | 7,800 | 0.99 |
| Colorado | $46,120 | $37,960 | $58,460 | 500 | 0.4 |
| Connecticut | $48,590 | $36,470 | $63,510 | 1,530 | 2.09 |
| Delaware | $44,390 | $35,700 | $54,200 | 50 | 0.25 |
| Florida | $40,310 | $34,790 | $56,670 | 1,020 | 0.24 |
| Georgia | $45,850 | $36,950 | $60,530 | 940 | 0.45 |
| Idaho | $45,980 | $36,940 | $53,270 | 170 | 0.47 |
| Illinois | $46,180 | $37,530 | $63,400 | 4,100 | 1.56 |
| Indiana | $47,310 | $38,790 | $61,360 | 4,170 | 3.02 |
| Iowa | $46,380 | $38,330 | $70,410 | 890 | 1.32 |
| Kansas | $42,710 | $35,520 | $49,980 | 1,010 | 1.64 |
| Kentucky | $49,160 | $37,260 | $73,540 | 850 | 0.99 |
| Louisiana | $38,650 | $30,790 | $55,500 | 160 | 0.19 |
| Maine | $47,230 | $37,780 | $56,630 | 170 | 0.62 |
| Maryland | $43,530 | $31,560 | $54,100 | 160 | 0.14 |
| Massachusetts | $50,910 | $39,610 | $75,340 | 2,420 | 1.54 |
| Michigan | $45,460 | $35,850 | $60,090 | 4,180 | 2.2 |
| Minnesota | $51,780 | $42,030 | $81,810 | 1,400 | 1.1 |
| Mississippi | $42,660 | $30,440 | $63,620 | 430 | 0.86 |
| Missouri | $46,270 | $37,140 | $64,030 | 1,210 | 0.96 |
| Montana | $41,740 | $34,590 | $53,580 | 160 | 0.71 |
| Nebraska | $48,500 | $33,280 | $59,510 | 300 | 0.67 |
| Nevada | $46,140 | $37,550 | $73,040 | 170 | 0.26 |
| New Hampshire | $46,580 | $38,730 | $60,020 | 600 | 2.03 |
| New Jersey | $44,450 | $32,490 | $67,180 | 860 | 0.46 |
| New Mexico | $38,020 | $32,220 | $49,400 | 30 | 0.09 |
| New York | $49,290 | $37,300 | $73,220 | 2,410 | 0.58 |
| North Carolina | $47,770 | $34,690 | $58,950 | 1,610 | 0.76 |
| North Dakota | $47,670 | $47,200 | $65,530 | ||
| Ohio | $45,270 | $35,730 | $63,620 | 5,960 | 2.49 |
| Oklahoma | $38,570 | $29,290 | $54,590 | 870 | 1.18 |
| Oregon | $57,290 | $41,330 | $75,290 | 1,180 | 1.4 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,650 | $36,540 | $60,040 | 3,830 | 1.47 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,400 | $23,790 | $47,830 | 60 | 0.14 |
| Rhode Island | $43,650 | $37,150 | $70,430 | 140 | 0.65 |
| South Carolina | $48,040 | $38,540 | $60,050 | 1,730 | 1.74 |
| South Dakota | $39,060 | $31,710 | $51,200 | 130 | 0.66 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 | $34,880 | $55,240 | 1,340 | 0.95 |
| Texas | $42,250 | $29,380 | $52,260 | 2,960 | 0.49 |
| Utah | $44,320 | $34,950 | $56,250 | 400 | 0.54 |
| Vermont | $50,640 | $48,360 | $59,960 | 300 | 2.27 |
| Virginia | $43,170 | $29,310 | $60,410 | 620 | 0.35 |
| Washington | $49,300 | $38,630 | $70,320 | 1,870 | 1.22 |
| West Virginia | $49,950 | $32,130 | $69,760 | 200 | 0.68 |
| Wisconsin | $47,330 | $37,030 | $60,540 | 3,570 | 2.82 |
| Wyoming | $46,800 | $44,830 | $55,710 | 30 | 0.28 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Machine Tool Technology/Machinist CIP 48.0501
- Machine Shop Technology/Assistant CIP 48.0503
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
- Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
- Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
- 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.
- Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
- Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
- Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Manufacturing reporting system
- Mazak Mazatrol SMART CNC
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Troubleshooting.
Common job titles: Cell Operator, Centerless Grinder Operator, Deburrer, Die Maintenance Technician (Die Maintenance Tech), Finisher, Grinder, Grinder Operator, Grinding Machine Operator, Metal Finisher, Process Equipment Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?
The national median annual wage for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic was $46,550 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,110 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $62,600. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a growing career?
BLS projects employment of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic to change -10.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oregon ($57,290), Minnesota ($51,780), Massachusetts ($50,910). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.