Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic salary by state
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
What Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastics do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlQuality Control AnalysisReading ComprehensionMonitoringTroubleshooting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$37,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$41,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$48,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$56,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$65,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-12%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
5,500
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic salary by industry
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
25,910 workers
$48,500
Primary Metal Manufacturing
11,800 workers
$50,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
9,720 workers
$50,000
Foundries
8,840 workers
$48,000
Machinery Manufacturing
8,790 workers
$52,500
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
8,520 workers
$54,000
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing
8,110 workers
$48,000
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
4,590 workers
$57,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
4,060 workers
$47,000
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities
4,030 workers
$46,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic pays 11% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic make?
The average base salary for a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic in the United States is $50,000 per year, or about $24.04 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $41,000 and $56,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
