Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in East Tennessee

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $51,460 +13.9% vs national
Median hourly $24.74
10th percentile $39,780
90th percentile $52,710
Employed locally 160
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
East Tennessee
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,780
    25th
    $51,000
    50th (median)
    $51,460
    75th
    $51,460
    90th
    $52,710

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

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

    Related occupations in East Tennessee

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $41,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $59,240
    Production Workers, All Other $41,560
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,260
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $46,150
    Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $44,530

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in East Tennessee is $24.74, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.55 or more per hour.

    Is East Tennessee 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 East Tennessee is 13.9% 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 East Tennessee?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $39,780 per year in East Tennessee. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $51,000.