Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in San Jose, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Median annual salary $48,650 +7.7% vs national
Median hourly $23.39
10th percentile $39,840
90th percentile $64,060
Employed locally 720
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 San Jose, CA 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
San Jose, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,840
    25th
    $43,840
    50th (median)
    $48,650
    75th
    $52,920
    90th
    $64,060

    San Jose economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $157,444 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 31% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 69% 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
    Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $52,020
    Utica-Rome, NY $50,290
    Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $49,630
    Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $49,590
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA $49,420
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $49,120

    Related occupations in San Jose, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,430
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$51,210
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$58,460
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$88,990
    Production Workers, All Other$47,670
    Machinists$62,870

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in San Jose, CA is $23.39, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.13 or more per hour.

    Is San Jose 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 San Jose, CA is 7.7% 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 San Jose?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $39,840 per year in San Jose, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,840.