Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Portland, OR-WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Median annual salary $55,280 +22.3% vs national
Median hourly $26.58
10th percentile $40,440
90th percentile $72,990
Employed locally 920
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 Portland, OR-WA 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
Portland, OR-WA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,440
    25th
    $47,350
    50th (median)
    $55,280
    75th
    $66,850
    90th
    $72,990

    Portland economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $94,573 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 58% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 42% 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
    Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area $58,380
    Fort Smith, AR-OK $55,410
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $52,850
    Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $52,020
    Oregon $51,850
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $51,360

    Related occupations in Portland, OR-WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Semiconductor Processing Technicians $61,410
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $46,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $73,960
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $57,050
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $60,940
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $43,900

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Portland, OR-WA is $26.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.20 or more per hour.

    Is Portland 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 Portland, OR-WA is 22.3% 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 Portland?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $40,440 per year in Portland, OR-WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,350.