Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$48,540
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$23.34
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$69,240
entry level starts ~$36,520
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 26,000 employed

How much do Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?

The median pay for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the United States is $48,540 per year — about $23.34 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $36,520, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $69,240.

That is $12,850 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary range by percentile

Half of all Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn between $40,430 and $60,040 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$36,520$17.56
25th percentile (early career)$40,430$19.44
50th percentile (median)$48,540$23.34
75th percentile (experienced)$60,040$28.87
90th percentile (top earners)$69,240$33.29

Highest-paying states for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Wyoming leads the country for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay at $71,300 a year, followed by Alaska ($68,730) and Iowa ($62,590). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $37,420 — a gap of $33,880 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Wyoming$71,300$34.28+47%
2Alaska$68,730$33.04+42%
3Iowa$62,590$30.09+29%
4Nevada$60,180$28.93+24%
5Montana$60,110$28.90+24%

Workforce and education

About 26,000 people work as Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $51,380 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in the United States?
The median Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in the United States is $48,540 per year, or about $23.34 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $36,520, while the top 10% of earners make $69,240 or more.
How does Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders median of $48,540 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders the most?
Wyoming is the highest-paying state for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, with a median salary of $71,300 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work in the United States?
About 26,000 people were employed as Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other manufacturing & production roles with similar pay.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

$48,570
median pay · 597,000 employed

Butchers and Meat Cutters

$40,140
median pay · 136,000 employed

Baker

$37,160
median pay · 236,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.