Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Birmingham, AL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Birmingham, AL

Median annual salary $38,580 -14.6% vs national
Median hourly $18.55
10th percentile $34,420
90th percentile $50,040
Employed locally 420
National median $45,190

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

Type a city below to see how Birmingham, AL stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Birmingham, AL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,420
    25th
    $38,290
    50th (median)
    $38,580
    75th
    $49,740
    90th
    $50,040

    Birmingham economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,627 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 55% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 45% 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
    Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $49,630
    Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $49,300
    Albany, OR $49,200
    West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $48,870
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,650
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $48,290

    Related occupations in Birmingham, AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,320
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $70,450
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $48,900
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $42,390
    Helpers--Production Workers $35,560
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $41,200

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Birmingham, AL is $18.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.01 or more per hour.

    Is Birmingham 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 Birmingham, AL is 14.6% below 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 Birmingham?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $34,420 per year in Birmingham, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,290.