SOC 51-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Tennessee
Tennessee · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Tennessee is $42,950 a year, trailing the national median of $48,540 by 11.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Tennessee is $42,950 a year, trailing the national median of $48,540 by 11.5%. Half of workers earn between $38,520 and $49,470. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,760 and the ninetieth at $57,800.
The area has 1,290 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.35 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 47 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 42nd by median wage. Jackson leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,180. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 546th of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,760 | −26.3% |
| 25th | $38,520 | −20.6% |
| Median (50th) | $42,950 | −11.5% |
| 75th | $49,470 | +1.9% |
| 90th | $57,800 | +19.1% |
| Mean | $45,300 | −6.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $42,950 goes as far as $46,736 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,950as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$46,736US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,950 a year, 11.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,760 to $57,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,290 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 42nd of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Jackson, at $47,180.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $42,950, or $20.65 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,540, so pay in Tennessee is 11.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Tennessee earns more than $57,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,760 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Jackson, at $47,180 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,290 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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