Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Wausau, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Wausau, WI

Median annual salary $39,340 -12.9% vs national
Median hourly $18.91
10th percentile $39,320
90th percentile $57,740
Employed locally 180
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
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,320
    25th
    $39,340
    50th (median)
    $39,340
    75th
    $44,010
    90th
    $57,740

    Wausau economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,185 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 52% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 48% 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
    Wilmington, NC $52,280
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $51,360
    Sheboygan, WI $50,850
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $49,590
    Green Bay, WI $48,300
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $48,160

    Related occupations in Wausau, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$45,510
    Food Batchmakers$46,170
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,370
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,400
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,670
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,390

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wausau, WI is $18.91, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.83 or more per hour.

    Is Wausau 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 Wausau, WI is 12.9% 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 Wausau?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $39,320 per year in Wausau, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,340.