Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Ames, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Ames, IA

Median annual salary $56,850 +21.2% vs national
Median hourly $27.33
10th percentile $43,180
90th percentile $58,170
Employed locally 40
National median $46,890

Compare Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary & buying power

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Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $43,180
    25th
    $54,050
    50th (median)
    $56,850
    75th
    $56,850
    90th
    $58,170

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary vs area income 80% Median Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary is 20% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $105,380
    Duluth, MN-WI $81,770
    Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $77,090
    Wyoming $76,350
    East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $72,560
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $70,810

    Nearby metros — Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $72,560
    Omaha, NE-IA $64,110
    Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $63,490
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $62,730
    Cedar Rapids, IA $62,640
    Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $58,890

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $47,250
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $47,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $67,220
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $49,310
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $59,950
    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Ames, IA is $27.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.97 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries?

    The median Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Ames, IA is 21.2% above the national median of $46,890. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Ames?

    Entry-level Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $43,180 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $54,050.