Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Asheville, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Asheville, NC

Median annual salary $53,180 +17.7% vs national
Median hourly $25.57
10th percentile $35,690
90th percentile $58,560
Employed locally 100
National median $45,190

Compare Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

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Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Asheville, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,690
    25th
    $42,360
    50th (median)
    $53,180
    75th
    $58,560
    90th
    $58,560

    Asheville economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,236 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 77% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 23% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Missouri $58,920
    St. Louis, MO-IL $58,920
    Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area $58,380
    Rochester, MN $55,990
    St. Cloud, MN $55,580
    Fort Smith, AR-OK $55,410

    Nearby metros — Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $55,280
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $52,850
    Wilmington, NC $52,280
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $48,750
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $48,140
    Greensboro-High Point, NC $47,100

    Related occupations in Asheville, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,600
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $68,240
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $41,870
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,610
    Machinists $47,130
    Production Workers, All Other $38,870

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Asheville?

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Asheville, NC is $25.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.08 or more per hour.

    Is Asheville above or below average for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Asheville, NC is 17.7% above the national median of $45,190. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Asheville?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $35,690 per year in Asheville, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,360.