Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $50,290 +11.3% vs national
Median hourly $24.18
10th percentile $37,680
90th percentile $68,330
Employed locally 170
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 Charleston, SC 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
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,680
    25th
    $39,330
    50th (median)
    $50,290
    75th
    $68,330
    90th
    $68,330

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 61% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 39% 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
    Spartanburg, SC $53,350
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $52,850
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $51,360
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $50,080
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $48,750
    Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $46,640

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $48,030
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $78,730
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,840
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $52,000
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $50,180
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $60,390

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Charleston, SC is $24.18, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $33.92 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston 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 Charleston, SC is 11.3% 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 Charleston?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $37,680 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,330.