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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Rhode Island Median
$43,650
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.99
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-6% vs US median
US median $46,550
State Rank
#35 of 48
140 employed here

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

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Rhode Island take home a median of $43,650 annually — roughly $20.99 an hour — which runs 6% below the national median of $46,550.

Within Rhode Island, entry-level pay starts around $37,150 while the top 10% make $70,430 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,480 and $60,510 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$37,150$17.86
25th percentile (early career)$38,480$18.50
50th percentile (median)$43,650$20.99
75th percentile (experienced)$60,510$29.09
90th percentile (top earners)$70,430$33.86

How Rhode Island compares

Rhode Island ranks 35th 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 Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island pay ($43,650) 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 Rhode Island?
The median Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Rhode Island is $43,650 per year, or about $20.99 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,150 at the entry level to $70,430 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Rhode Island pay compare to the national average?
Rhode Island pays Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 6% less than the national median of $46,550. Rhode Island ranks 35th out of 48 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Rhode Island 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 $43,650 a year. About 140 Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island?
The highest-paying occupations in Rhode Island include Emergency Medicine Physician ($512,730), Family Medicine Physician ($467,160), Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($450,370), 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.