SOC 51-4033 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Memphis
Memphis, TN-MS-AR · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Memphis, TN is $47,320 per year, close to the national median of $46,550 for the same occupation.
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 Memphis, TN is $47,320 per year, close to the national median of $46,550 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $38,690 at the tenth percentile to more than $75,660 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,040 to $62,020.
Employment stands at 150, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,670. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 359th of 564 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,690 | −16.9% |
| 25th | $46,040 | −1.1% |
| Median (50th) | $47,320 | +1.7% |
| 75th | $62,020 | +33.2% |
| 90th | $75,660 | +62.5% |
| Mean | $51,900 | +11.5% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $46,670 | 310 | |
| 2 | Morristown | $43,680 | 30 | |
| 3 | Clarksville | $39,770 | 90 | |
| 4 | Knoxville | $39,170 | 130 | |
| 5 | Chattanooga | $38,890 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Memphis run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $47,320 goes as far as $51,491 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,491US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,320 a year, 1.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,690 to $75,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 150 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $46,670.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Memphis, TN?
The median annual wage is $47,320, or $22.75 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 Memphis, TN is 1.7% higher. 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 Memphis, TN earns more than $75,660 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,690 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 Nashville, at $46,670 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 150 jobs in this occupation in Memphis, TN. 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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