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Salary comparison

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers out-earn Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic by $28K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic land at $46,550 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers at $74,450. The education gap is real: grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is Oregon ($57,290); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$46,550
$74,450
Hourly rate
$22.38/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$36,110
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$62,600
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
67,000
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
-12%
1.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Oregon
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic median pay.

State
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Minnesota
$51,780
$78,550
Massachusetts
$50,910
$79,920
Washington
$49,300
$79,310
New York
$49,290
$78,580
Connecticut
$48,590
$83,150
South Carolina
$48,040
$77,500
Maine
$47,230
$78,970
Wyoming
$46,800
$90,390
New Hampshire
$46,580
$79,310
Colorado
$46,120
$78,890
New Jersey
$44,450
$81,110
Delaware
$44,390
$79,100
Rhode Island
$43,650
$81,650
Maryland
$43,530
$78,520
Louisiana
$38,650
$77,520

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn more nationally. The median is $46,550 for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, a difference of $28K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 1.2% projected growth, compared to -12% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic get paid the most?

Oregon is the top-paying state for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic at $57,290/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Minnesota, Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn $51,780 vs. $78,550 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plasticGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →