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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

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)
73,800 1.2 % $ 20.21 $ 42,050 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 $ 14.61 $ 16.83 $ 18.71 $ 22.83 $ 28.09
Annual Wage (2) $ 30,390 $ 35,000 $ 38,910 $ 47,490 $ 58,430


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) 10,270 2.21 $ 20.17 $ 41,950
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing 8,670 2.59 $ 19.75 $ 41,070
Foundries 7,940 7.55 $ 19.49 $ 40,540
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 5,350 4.23 $ 18.54 $ 38,560
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 4,840 2.98 $ 21.28 $ 44,260

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 7,940 7.55 $ 19.49 $ 40,540
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 5,350 4.23 $ 18.54 $ 38,560
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 4,840 2.98 $ 21.28 $ 44,260
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing 8,670 2.59 $ 19.75 $ 41,070
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) 10,270 2.21 $ 20.17 $ 41,950

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)
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 500 0.86 $ 27.80 $ 57,820
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 260 0.46 $ 27.03 $ 56,210
Electrical Equipment Manufacturing 260 0.19 $ 26.11 $ 54,320
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing 360 0.13 $ 25.19 $ 52,400
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 4,160 0.87 $ 23.58 $ 49,040


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.



Map of employment of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2022


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 9,760 0.55 1.11 $ 20.52 $ 42,680
Ohio 7,380 1.37 2.75 $ 19.24 $ 40,010
Illinois 5,570 0.95 1.90 $ 20.66 $ 42,960
Michigan 4,300 1.01 2.03 $ 20.30 $ 42,230
Pennsylvania 4,270 0.73 1.47 $ 20.34 $ 42,300


Map of location quotient of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2022


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)
Ohio 7,380 1.37 2.75 $ 19.24 $ 40,010
Wisconsin 3,670 1.30 2.61 $ 20.69 $ 43,020
Indiana 3,880 1.26 2.52 $ 20.10 $ 41,820
Connecticut 1,890 1.16 2.32 $ 21.99 $ 45,740
Alabama 2,300 1.15 2.30 $ 17.47 $ 36,330


Map of annual mean wages of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2022


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 1,080 0.57 1.14 $ 24.66 $ 51,280
Vermont 200 0.69 1.39 $ 22.68 $ 47,180
Iowa 800 0.52 1.05 $ 22.26 $ 46,300
Arizona 1,100 0.36 0.73 $ 22.21 $ 46,210
Massachusetts 1,850 0.52 1.04 $ 22.18 $ 46,130



Map of employment of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


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 4,580 0.75 1.50 $ 20.46 $ 42,550
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 3,480 0.79 1.58 $ 20.96 $ 43,590
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1,680 0.90 1.80 $ 21.49 $ 44,690
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,450 0.16 0.32 $ 19.97 $ 41,540
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 1,360 1.38 2.77 $ 19.21 $ 39,950
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 1,300 0.43 0.85 $ 19.00 $ 39,510
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,280 0.47 0.95 $ 21.81 $ 45,360
Pittsburgh, PA 1,150 1.09 2.18 $ 22.12 $ 46,010
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,090 0.58 1.16 $ 21.67 $ 45,080
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 1,060 1.32 2.65 $ 21.29 $ 44,290


Map of location quotient of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


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)
Muskegon, MI 280 4.52 9.05 $ 19.80 $ 41,170
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 190 4.45 8.92 $ 16.88 $ 35,110
Albany, OR 170 3.67 7.36 $ 25.82 $ 53,700
Sheboygan, WI 200 3.39 6.79 $ 19.55 $ 40,670
Rockford, IL 420 3.06 6.13 $ 19.17 $ 39,880
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 160 2.79 5.59 $ 18.32 $ 38,110
Springfield, OH 120 2.55 5.10 $ 18.34 $ 38,140
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 350 2.43 4.88 $ 20.93 $ 43,540
Columbus, IN 120 2.36 4.74 $ 19.68 $ 40,940
Danbury, CT 180 2.35 4.71 $ 22.84 $ 47,500


Map of annual mean wages of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


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 180 0.50 1.00 $ 29.87 $ 62,130
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 80 0.89 1.79 $ 26.09 $ 54,260
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 60 0.70 1.40 $ 25.98 $ 54,030
Albany, OR 170 3.67 7.36 $ 25.82 $ 53,700
Syracuse, NY 330 1.16 2.33 $ 25.06 $ 52,120
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 830 0.70 1.40 $ 24.87 $ 51,730
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 50 0.02 0.04 $ 24.09 $ 50,100
Dubuque, IA 40 0.64 1.28 $ 23.85 $ 49,610
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 200 1.12 2.25 $ 23.83 $ 49,560
Springfield, MA-CT 360 1.13 2.27 $ 23.73 $ 49,360

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 1,110 5.32 10.67 $ 20.58 $ 42,810
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 1,080 3.36 6.74 $ 18.01 $ 37,470
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 820 3.33 6.67 $ 19.40 $ 40,360
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 560 2.88 5.78 $ 19.31 $ 40,160
West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area 490 3.06 6.14 $ 22.17 $ 46,110

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 1,110 5.32 10.67 $ 20.58 $ 42,810
Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area 270 4.02 8.05 $ 19.49 $ 40,540
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 1,080 3.36 6.74 $ 18.01 $ 37,470
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 820 3.33 6.67 $ 19.40 $ 40,360
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 110 3.31 6.63 $ 21.29 $ 44,270

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)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 100 1.62 3.24 $ 25.81 $ 53,680
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 150 1.49 2.98 $ 23.38 $ 48,640
Northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 170 1.41 2.82 $ 22.43 $ 46,660
Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area 240 3.06 6.13 $ 22.39 $ 46,580
Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 190 1.72 3.44 $ 22.23 $ 46,230


About May 2022 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.

(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 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023