Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Median annual salary $45,500 +0.7% vs national
Median hourly $21.87
10th percentile $39,310
90th percentile $67,490
Employed locally 140
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,310
    25th
    $45,370
    50th (median)
    $45,500
    75th
    $61,440
    90th
    $67,490

    Memphis economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,743 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 70% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 30% 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
    Knoxville, TN $47,100
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $45,890
    Morristown, TN $43,680
    Jackson, TN $42,260
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $42,180
    Clarksville, TN-KY $39,770

    Related occupations in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $37,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $64,500
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $45,690
    Production Workers, All Other $37,230
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $44,530
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $48,170

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $21.87, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.38 or more per hour.

    Is Memphis 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR is 0.7% 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 Memphis?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $39,310 per year in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $45,370.