Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in California
In California, the median pay for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is $22.06 an hour ($45,890 a year). About 7,800 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($46,550). California ranks 26th of 48 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.55 | $36,510 |
| 25% of workers | $18.96 | $39,440 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.06 | $45,890 |
| 75% of workers | $25.87 | $53,820 |
| 90% of workers | $30.11 | $62,630 |
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $49,230 | 830 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $48,320 | 650 |
| Vallejo | $47,630 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $46,160 | 500 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $45,500 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $45,440 | 3,920 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $45,050 | 140 |
| Modesto | $44,780 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $44,580 | 220 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $44,160 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $43,130 | 830 |
| Fresno | $40,040 | 100 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -10.8% over ten years, declining · about 4,500 openings a year (BLS)
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.