Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Waterloo, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Median annual salary $44,930 -0.6% vs national
Median hourly $21.60
10th percentile $38,970
90th percentile $70,650
Employed locally 140
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
Waterloo, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,970
    25th
    $39,220
    50th (median)
    $44,930
    75th
    $70,650
    90th
    $70,650

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 65% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 35% 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
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $52,850
    Peoria, IL $50,330
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $48,290
    Ames, IA $47,490
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $47,370
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $47,170

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$48,120
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,220
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,420
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$47,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,420
    Production Workers, All Other$48,700

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Waterloo, IA is $21.60, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.54 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo 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 Waterloo, IA is 0.6% below 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 Waterloo?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $38,970 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,220.