Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Milwaukee, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Median annual salary $48,160 +6.6% vs national
Median hourly $23.15
10th percentile $38,120
90th percentile $61,320
Employed locally 1,010
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
Milwaukee, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,120
    25th
    $40,120
    50th (median)
    $48,160
    75th
    $55,310
    90th
    $61,320

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 63% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 37% 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
    Wilmington, NC $52,280
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $51,360
    Sheboygan, WI $50,850
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $49,590
    Green Bay, WI $48,300
    Appleton, WI $47,940

    Related occupations in Milwaukee, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $44,840
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,260
    Machinists $53,010
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,580
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $46,090
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $57,370

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Milwaukee, WI is $23.15, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.29 or more per hour.

    Is Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee, WI is 6.6% 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 Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $38,120 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,120.