SOC 51-4033 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Minnesota
Minnesota · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Minnesota comes to $51,780 a year, ahead of the national median of $46,550 by 11.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Minnesota comes to $51,780 a year, ahead of the national median of $46,550 by 11.2%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,840 and $60,560. The lowest tenth earn under $42,030, while the highest tenth earn more than $81,810.
Employment stands at 1,400, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 48 states with published data for this occupation, Minnesota ranks 2nd by median wage. St. Cloud leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $57,110. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 510th of 721 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,030 | −9.7% |
| 25th | $46,840 | +0.6% |
| Median (50th) | $51,780 | +11.2% |
| 75th | $60,560 | +30.1% |
| 90th | $81,810 | +75.7% |
| Mean | $56,470 | +21.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Minnesota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Cloud | $57,110 | 50 | |
| 2 | Rochester | $55,990 | 30 | |
| 3 | Minneapolis | $51,990 | 1,000 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Minnesota sit close to the national average, so $51,780 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$51,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,515US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,780 a year, 11.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $42,030 to $81,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,400 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Cloud, at $57,110.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Minnesota?
The median annual wage is $51,780, or $24.90 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 Minnesota is 11.2% 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 Minnesota earns more than $81,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $42,030 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 St. Cloud, at $57,110 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,400 jobs in this occupation in Minnesota. 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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