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

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • State College, PA

Median annual salary $45,830 +1.4% vs national
Median hourly $22.03
10th percentile $35,690
90th percentile $49,450
Employed locally 40
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
State College, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,690
    25th
    $39,330
    50th (median)
    $45,830
    75th
    $49,100
    90th
    $49,450

    State College economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $72,748 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
    Spartanburg, SC $53,350
    Reading, PA $51,380
    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

    Related occupations in State College, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$43,260
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$39,020
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,080
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$44,350
    Machinists$49,660
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$57,440

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in State College, PA is $22.03, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.78 or more per hour.

    Is State College 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 State College, PA is 1.4% 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 State College?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $35,690 per year in State College, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,330.