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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Montana Median
$41,740
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.07
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $46,550
State Rank
#41 of 48
160 employed here

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

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Montana take home a median of $41,740 annually — roughly $20.07 an hour — which runs 10% below the national median of $46,550.

Within Montana, entry-level pay starts around $34,590 while the top 10% make $53,580 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,180 and $46,660 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$34,590$16.63
25th percentile (early career)$38,180$18.36
50th percentile (median)$41,740$20.07
75th percentile (experienced)$46,660$22.43
90th percentile (top earners)$53,580$25.76

How Montana compares

Montana ranks 41st 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 Montana

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 Montana pay ($41,740) 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 Montana?
The median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Montana is $41,740 per year, or about $20.07 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $34,590 at the entry level to $53,580 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Montana pay compare to the national average?
Montana pays Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 10% less than the national median of $46,550. Montana ranks 41st out of 48 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Montana a good state for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $41,740 a year. About 160 Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in Montana. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Montana?
The highest-paying occupations in Montana include Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($560,820), Physician, All Other ($438,850), Radiologist ($360,330), 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.