SOC 51-4033 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
At $45,890, median pay for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California tracks the national median of $46,550 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $45,890, median pay for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California tracks the national median of $46,550 closely. Pay ranges from under $36,510 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,630 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $39,440 to $53,820.
The area has 7,800 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.99 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. California ranks number 26th out of 48 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $49,230. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 670th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,510 | −21.6% |
| 25th | $39,440 | −15.3% |
| Median (50th) | $45,890 | −1.4% |
| 75th | $53,820 | +15.6% |
| 90th | $62,630 | +34.5% |
| Mean | $48,450 | +4.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $49,230 | 830 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $48,320 | 650 | |
| 3 | Vallejo | $47,630 | 60 | |
| 4 | San Diego | $46,160 | 500 | |
| 5 | Bakersfield | $45,500 | 40 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $45,440 | 3,920 | |
| 7 | Sacramento | $45,050 | 140 | |
| 8 | Modesto | $44,780 | 70 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $44,580 | 220 | |
| 10 | Stockton | $44,160 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $45,890 buys what $41,454 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,890as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,454US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,890 a year, 1.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,510 to $62,630 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,800 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 26th of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $49,230.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California?
The median annual wage is $45,890, or $22.06 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 California is 1.4% 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 California earns more than $62,630 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,510 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 San Jose, at $49,230 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,800 jobs in this occupation in California. 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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