Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Reading, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Reading, PA

Median annual salary $51,380 +13.7% vs national
Median hourly $24.70
10th percentile $38,010
90th percentile $65,970
Employed locally 470
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
Reading, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,010
    25th
    $46,640
    50th (median)
    $51,380
    75th
    $51,380
    90th
    $65,970

    Reading economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,684 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 66% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 34% 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
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $49,590
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $46,760
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $46,540
    Pittsburgh, PA $46,420
    State College, PA $45,830

    Related occupations in Reading, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,050
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,670
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$51,460
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,520
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,230
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$52,590

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Reading, PA is $24.70, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.53 or more per hour.

    Is Reading 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 Reading, PA is 13.7% 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 Reading?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $38,010 per year in Reading, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,640.