Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

51-4033 Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
70,120 1.8 % $15.54 $32,310 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $9.87 $11.89 $14.74 $18.23 $22.53
Annual Wage (2) $20,530 $24,720 $30,670 $37,920 $46,860

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing 7,240 2.39 $15.76 $32,770
Foundries 6,150 5.64 $14.91 $31,010
Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 5,720 2.34 $16.35 $34,010
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 5,280 4.44 $15.24 $31,700
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 4,760 3.12 $16.59 $34,510

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Foundries 6,150 5.64 $14.91 $31,010
Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing 1,970 4.97 $15.95 $33,170
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 5,280 4.44 $15.24 $31,700
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 4,760 3.12 $16.59 $34,510
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing 7,240 2.39 $15.76 $32,770

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 860 1.02 $18.10 $37,650
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 550 0.96 $17.65 $36,710
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 1,460 1.64 $17.00 $35,350
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 3,400 0.71 $16.81 $34,970
Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 380 1.14 $16.71 $34,770

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 8,280 0.59 1.07 $14.01 $29,130
Ohio 5,330 1.08 1.97 $15.88 $33,030
Pennsylvania 4,430 0.81 1.47 $16.51 $34,340
Texas 4,410 0.44 0.79 $12.56 $26,130
Indiana 3,900 1.43 2.59 $15.71 $32,670




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Hampshire 950 1.57 2.84 $15.35 $31,940
Indiana 3,900 1.43 2.59 $15.71 $32,670
Wisconsin 3,720 1.43 2.59 $15.56 $32,370
Vermont 310 1.09 1.97 $16.15 $33,590
Ohio 5,330 1.08 1.97 $15.88 $33,030




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
South Carolina 1,360 0.78 1.41 $19.90 $41,380
Maine 280 0.49 0.88 $19.49 $40,540
Michigan 3,510 0.93 1.69 $19.46 $40,480
Connecticut 1,010 0.63 1.14 $17.79 $37,000
Oregon 630 0.40 0.73 $17.54 $36,490

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 3,440 0.90 1.63 $14.00 $29,120
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 2,260 0.64 1.16 $16.48 $34,270
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division 1,550 1.13 2.05 $13.58 $28,250
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 1,520 1.93 3.50 $15.33 $31,880
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 1,470 0.59 1.06 $12.33 $25,650
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,410 0.84 1.52 $17.45 $36,290
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH 1,360 1.40 2.54 $16.35 $34,020
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 1,360 1.33 2.42 $21.78 $45,300
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 1,130 0.23 0.41 $16.07 $33,430
Pittsburgh, PA 1,120 1.02 1.86 $16.45 $34,220




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Carson City, NV 230 8.23 14.92 $17.32 $36,030
Elmira, NY 120 3.34 6.06 $16.00 $33,280
Fond du Lac, WI 120 2.88 5.23 $17.08 $35,530
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 280 2.80 5.08 $15.65 $32,540
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI 160 2.77 5.03 $13.10 $27,260
Johnson City, TN 210 2.74 4.97 $14.17 $29,470
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 220 2.64 4.79 $16.96 $35,270
Janesville, WI 150 2.55 4.63 $17.29 $35,970
Gainesville, GA 160 2.32 4.21 $17.73 $36,870
Canton-Massillon, OH 360 2.28 4.14 $14.91 $31,010