SOC 51-4033 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Tennessee
Tennessee · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Tennessee is $44,710 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 Tennessee is $44,710 per year, close to the national median of $46,550 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $34,880 at the tenth percentile to more than $55,240 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,860 to $48,540.
Employment stands at 1,340, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 48 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 31st by median wage. Memphis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,320. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 523rd of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,880 | −25.1% |
| 25th | $37,860 | −18.7% |
| Median (50th) | $44,710 | −4.0% |
| 75th | $48,540 | +4.3% |
| 90th | $55,240 | +18.7% |
| Mean | $44,740 | −3.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | $47,320 | 150 | |
| 2 | Nashville | $46,670 | 310 | |
| 3 | Morristown | $43,680 | 30 | |
| 4 | Clarksville | $39,770 | 90 | |
| 5 | Knoxville | $39,170 | 130 | |
| 6 | Chattanooga | $38,890 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $44,710 goes as far as $48,651 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,710as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$48,651US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,710 a year, 4.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,880 to $55,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,340 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 31st of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Memphis, at $47,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $44,710, or $21.50 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 Tennessee is 4.0% 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 Tennessee earns more than $55,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,880 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 Memphis, at $47,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,340 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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