Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Median annual salary $46,540 +3% vs national
Median hourly $22.37
10th percentile $35,570
90th percentile $62,550
Employed locally 640
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 Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD 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
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,570
    25th
    $39,000
    50th (median)
    $46,540
    75th
    $57,110
    90th
    $62,550

    Philadelphia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,273 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 52% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 48% 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
    Reading, PA $51,380
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $49,590
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $46,760
    Pittsburgh, PA $46,420
    State College, PA $45,830

    Related occupations in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,770
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,290
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,700
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$40,840
    Bakers$36,160
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,110

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $22.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.63 or more per hour.

    Is Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 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 Philadelphia?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $35,570 per year in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,000.