SOC 51-4033 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Arkansas
Arkansas · 2 metro areas compared
In Arkansas the median wage is $39,590.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Arkansas the median wage is $39,590. That is 15.0% lower than the national median of $46,550. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,670 and $47,220. The lowest tenth earn under $33,690, while the highest tenth earn more than $50,490.
Employment stands at 340, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 48 states with published data for this occupation, Arkansas ranks 43rd by median wage. Fayetteville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $39,240. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 475th of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,690 | −27.6% |
| 25th | $37,670 | −19.1% |
| Median (50th) | $39,590 | −15.0% |
| 75th | $47,220 | +1.4% |
| 90th | $50,490 | +8.5% |
| Mean | $42,920 | −7.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $39,240 | 40 | |
| 2 | Fort Smith | $37,590 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $39,590 goes as far as $45,558 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,590as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,558US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,590 a year, 15.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,690 to $50,490 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fayetteville, at $39,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $39,590, or $19.03 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 $46,550, so pay in Arkansas is 15.0% 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 Arkansas earns more than $50,490 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,690 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 Fayetteville, at $39,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. 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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