SOC 51-4033 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Grand Rapids, MI is $41,150 per year, 11.6% below the national median of $46,550.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Grand Rapids, MI is $41,150 per year, 11.6% below the national median of $46,550. Pay ranges from under $36,060 at the tenth percentile to more than $56,620 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,580 to $46,940.
The area has 810 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.4 of every thousand jobs. Muskegon leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $59,750. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 462nd of 572 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,060 | −22.5% |
| 25th | $37,580 | −19.3% |
| Median (50th) | $41,150 | −11.6% |
| 75th | $46,940 | +0.8% |
| 90th | $56,620 | +21.6% |
| Mean | $43,680 | −6.2% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muskegon | $59,750 | 460 | |
| 2 | Saginaw | $50,880 | 30 | |
| 3 | Jackson | $46,730 | 200 | |
| 4 | Detroit | $46,360 | 1,210 | |
| 5 | Lansing | $44,100 | 130 | |
| 6 | Monroe | $43,680 | 90 | |
| 7 | Battle Creek | $40,610 | 50 | |
| 8 | Ann Arbor | $40,500 | 50 | |
| 9 | Niles | $40,000 | 140 | |
| 10 | Traverse City | $39,420 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Grand Rapids run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $41,150 goes as far as $42,775 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$41,150as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,775US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $41,150 a year, 11.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,060 to $56,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 810 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Muskegon, at $59,750.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median annual wage is $41,150, or $19.78 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 Grand Rapids, MI is 11.6% 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 Grand Rapids, MI earns more than $56,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,060 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 Muskegon, at $59,750 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 810 jobs in this occupation in Grand Rapids, MI. 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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