SOC 51-4033 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Nebraska
Nebraska · 2 metro areas compared
At $48,500, median pay for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Nebraska tracks the national median of $46,550 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $48,500, median pay for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Nebraska tracks the national median of $46,550 closely. Pay ranges from under $33,280 at the tenth percentile to more than $59,510 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $38,980 to $49,680.
Employment stands at 300, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Nebraska ranks number 10th out of 48 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lincoln records the highest median at $48,500. Of the 662 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 436th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,280 | −28.5% |
| 25th | $38,980 | −16.3% |
| Median (50th) | $48,500 | +4.2% |
| 75th | $49,680 | +6.7% |
| 90th | $59,510 | +27.8% |
| Mean | $47,420 | +1.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Nebraska
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Nebraska run 9.9% below the national average, so the median of $48,500 goes as far as $53,829 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,829US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,500 a year, 4.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,280 to $59,510 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 300 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 10th of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lincoln, at $48,500.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Nebraska?
The median annual wage is $48,500, or $23.32 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 Nebraska is 4.2% 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 Nebraska earns more than $59,510 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,280 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 Lincoln, at $48,500 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 300 jobs in this occupation in Nebraska. 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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