Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
The median pay for a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $55,410/year ($26.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $64,513 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $937/month, or 25.7% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $55K get you in Fort Smith?
About grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Smith, AR-OK
Entry-level grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K.Top earners bring in $69K or more - a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $59K | +30% | 1,480 |
| Oregon | $52K | +15% | 1,160 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +9% | 1,490 |
| Vermont | $49K | +9% | 220 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +8% | 2,330 |
| South Carolina | $48K | +7% | 2,020 |
| Washington | $48K | +5% | 2,080 |
| Connecticut | $47K | +5% | 1,520 |
| North Carolina | $47K | +5% | 1,820 |
| Nebraska | $47K | +3% | 160 |
| Idaho | $47K | +3% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | +3% | 3,430 |
| Maine | $46K | +3% | 210 |
| North Dakota | $46K | +2% | 50 |
| Illinois | $46K | +2% | 5,100 |
Track grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Fort Smith numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median is $55,410 a year - that works out to about $26.64 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,000, and experienced grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $68,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Fort Smith?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,714/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $937/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 25.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Fort Smith?
Fort Smith has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $64,513 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.