Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Wilmington, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Wilmington, NC

Median annual salary $52,280 +15.7% vs national
Median hourly $25.14
10th percentile $35,050
90th percentile $60,960
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
Wilmington, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,050
    25th
    $44,980
    50th (median)
    $52,280
    75th
    $53,520
    90th
    $60,960

    Wilmington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,687 2023 • Census ACS
    Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 71% Median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 29% 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
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $55,280
    Asheville, NC $53,180
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $52,850
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $48,750
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $48,140
    Greensboro-High Point, NC $47,100

    Related occupations in Wilmington, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $37,890
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $70,360
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $82,920
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $55,700
    Bakers $34,410
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $47,830

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wilmington, NC is $25.14, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.26 or more per hour.

    Is Wilmington 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 Wilmington, NC is 15.7% 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 Wilmington?

    Entry-level Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $35,050 per year in Wilmington, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,980.