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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

51-4033 Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.


National estimates for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Industry profile for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Geographic profile for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

National estimates for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
69,570 2.4 % $ 18.65 $ 38,800 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 12.78 $ 14.57 $ 17.73 $ 22.03 $ 26.34
Annual Wage (2) $ 26,580 $ 30,310 $ 36,880 $ 45,820 $ 54,790


Industry profile for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) 9,580 2.12 $ 19.00 $ 39,510
Foundries 8,280 7.80 $ 18.19 $ 37,840
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing 7,150 2.08 $ 18.35 $ 38,180
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5,430 3.25 $ 18.86 $ 39,220
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 4,800 3.65 $ 18.01 $ 37,450

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Foundries 8,280 7.80 $ 18.19 $ 37,840
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 4,800 3.65 $ 18.01 $ 37,450
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5,430 3.25 $ 18.86 $ 39,220
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) 9,580 2.12 $ 19.00 $ 39,510
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing 7,150 2.08 $ 18.35 $ 38,180

Top paying industries for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance 170 0.08 $ 22.63 $ 47,060
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 730 1.33 $ 21.32 $ 44,340
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing 350 0.16 $ 21.18 $ 44,050
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 1,010 1.21 $ 21.04 $ 43,770
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 1,210 1.32 $ 21.03 $ 43,740


Geographic profile for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 7,520 0.46 0.92 $ 18.79 $ 39,080
Ohio 5,940 1.16 2.31 $ 18.18 $ 37,820
Michigan 5,080 1.29 2.59 $ 19.18 $ 39,890
Indiana 4,430 1.52 3.04 $ 18.27 $ 38,010
Illinois 4,040 0.72 1.44 $ 18.75 $ 39,010




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Indiana 4,430 1.52 3.04 $ 18.27 $ 38,010
Wisconsin 3,890 1.43 2.87 $ 18.80 $ 39,100
Michigan 5,080 1.29 2.59 $ 19.18 $ 39,890
Ohio 5,940 1.16 2.31 $ 18.18 $ 37,820
New Hampshire 710 1.14 2.28 $ 18.49 $ 38,460




Top paying states for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oregon 1,390 0.77 1.54 $ 23.12 $ 48,080
Connecticut 1,330 0.86 1.73 $ 22.91 $ 47,640
Louisiana 200 0.11 0.22 $ 22.49 $ 46,780
Mississippi 570 0.52 1.05 $ 22.12 $ 46,020
South Carolina 1,240 0.61 1.23 $ 21.13 $ 43,950





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,570 0.61 1.23 $ 18.98 $ 39,480
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2,630 0.60 1.20 $ 18.92 $ 39,350
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,900 1.03 2.05 $ 19.66 $ 40,900
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1,870 1.05 2.10 $ 20.48 $ 42,590
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 1,660 1.69 3.38 $ 18.69 $ 38,880
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 1,520 0.51 1.02 $ 16.72 $ 34,780
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,500 0.17 0.34 $ 18.50 $ 38,470
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,200 0.46 0.92 $ 19.64 $ 40,850
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,180 0.60 1.20 $ 18.99 $ 39,500
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 1,160 1.45 2.89 $ 18.32 $ 38,100




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 770 6.11 12.22 $ 18.66 $ 38,820
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 470 5.20 10.39 $ 22.82 $ 47,470
Sheboygan, WI 260 4.52 9.03 (8) (8)
Rockford, IL 570 4.25 8.49 $ 17.45 $ 36,300
Albany, OR 150 3.44 6.88 $ 23.01 $ 47,860
Gainesville, GA 290 3.23 6.46 $ 22.94 $ 47,710
Carson City, NV 90 2.96 5.92 $ 15.77 $ 32,800
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 110 2.65 5.30 $ 13.95 $ 29,020
Erie, PA 300 2.62 5.25 $ 16.98 $ 35,320
Michigan City-La Porte, IN 90 2.43 4.86 $ 15.48 $ 32,190




Top paying metropolitan areas for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 130 0.37 0.73 $ 32.35 $ 67,290
New Orleans-Metairie, LA (8) (8) (8) $ 30.52 $ 63,490
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 260 0.69 1.39 $ 25.22 $ 52,460
Reading, PA 270 1.65 3.30 $ 24.20 $ 50,330
Mobile, AL 40 0.22 0.44 $ 24.09 $ 50,100
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 1,040 0.91 1.82 $ 23.76 $ 49,420
Waterbury, CT 80 1.22 2.44 $ 23.35 $ 48,570
Richmond, VA 30 0.05 0.11 $ 23.27 $ 48,400
Albany, OR 150 3.44 6.88 $ 23.01 $ 47,860
Gainesville, GA 290 3.23 6.46 $ 22.94 $ 47,710

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 1,250 6.15 12.30 $ 18.16 $ 37,770
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 580 2.34 4.68 $ 16.01 $ 33,310
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 540 2.84 5.69 $ 17.48 $ 36,370
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 480 1.53 3.06 $ 16.47 $ 34,260
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 450 2.99 5.98 $ 17.50 $ 36,400

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 1,250 6.15 12.30 $ 18.16 $ 37,770
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 250 3.68 7.35 $ 16.57 $ 34,460
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 100 3.46 6.92 $ 18.29 $ 38,050
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 450 2.99 5.98 $ 17.50 $ 36,400
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 540 2.84 5.69 $ 17.48 $ 36,370

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 80 0.41 0.83 $ 22.94 $ 47,720
West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area 180 1.08 2.15 $ 22.20 $ 46,180
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 240 0.99 1.99 $ 21.83 $ 45,400
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 100 0.58 1.16 $ 21.80 $ 45,340
West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 21.43 $ 44,570


About May 2020 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021