Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Kentucky, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Kentucky Median
$49,160
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+6% vs US median
US median $46,550
State Rank
#8 of 48
850 employed here

How much do Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in Kentucky?

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Kentucky take home a median of $49,160 annually — roughly $23.63 an hour — which runs 6% above the national median of $46,550.

Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $37,260 while the top 10% make $73,540 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $42,790 and $58,490 a year.

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary range in Kentucky

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$37,260$17.91
25th percentile (early career)$42,790$20.57
50th percentile (median)$49,160$23.63
75th percentile (experienced)$58,490$28.12
90th percentile (top earners)$73,540$35.36

How Kentucky compares

Kentucky ranks 8th out of 48 states and territories for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Oregon$57,290
2Minnesota$51,780
3Massachusetts$50,910
4Vermont$50,640
5West Virginia$49,950

Working as Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Kentucky

Nationally, about 67,000 people work as Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($49,160) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in Kentucky?
The median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Kentucky is $49,160 per year, or about $23.63 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,260 at the entry level to $73,540 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 6% more than the national median of $46,550. Kentucky ranks 8th out of 48 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Yes on pay — Kentucky pays above the national median for this occupation, at $49,160 a year. About 850 Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in Kentucky. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.