SOC 51-4033 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Seattle, WA comes to $53,930 a year, ahead of the national median of $46,550 by 15.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Seattle, WA comes to $53,930 a year, ahead of the national median of $46,550 by 15.9%. Pay ranges from under $40,380 at the tenth percentile to more than $72,690 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $47,700 to $61,350.
The area has 1,050 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.16 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Longview records the highest median at $53,620. Of the 693 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 556th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,380 | −13.3% |
| 25th | $47,700 | +2.5% |
| Median (50th) | $53,930 | +15.9% |
| 75th | $61,350 | +31.8% |
| 90th | $72,690 | +56.2% |
| Mean | $56,300 | +20.9% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Longview | $53,620 | 50 | |
| 2 | Mount Vernon | $50,300 | 40 | |
| 3 | Spokane | $46,680 | 340 | |
| 4 | Yakima | $46,020 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Seattle run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $53,930 buys what $50,402 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$53,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$50,402US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $53,930 a year, 15.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,380 to $72,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,050 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Longview, at $53,620.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Seattle, WA?
The median annual wage is $53,930, or $25.93 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 Seattle, WA is 15.9% 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 Seattle, WA earns more than $72,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,380 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 Longview, at $53,620 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,050 jobs in this occupation in Seattle, WA. 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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