Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Killeen-Temple, TX
The median pay for a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Killeen-Temple, TX is $38,050/year ($18.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.13), which stretches that salary to about $41,754 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,233/month — about 45% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $38K get you in Killeen-Temple?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Killeen-Temple’s Regional Price Parity (91.13). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Killeen-Temple, TX
Entry-level grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $19K 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 |
| New York | $46K | +2% | 2,320 |
| California | $46K | +1% | 7,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $46K | +1% | 4,280 |
| Wyoming | $45K | +1% | 30 |
| Tennessee | $45K | +0% | 920 |
| Virginia | $45K | +0% | 550 |
| Iowa | $45K | -1% | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $45K | -1% | 4,590 |
| New Hampshire | $44K | -2% | 590 |
| Arizona | $44K | -2% | 820 |
| Georgia | $44K | -3% | 1,120 |
| Louisiana | $43K | -5% | 130 |
| Utah | $43K | -5% | 490 |
| Michigan | $42K | -8% | 4,670 |
| Kentucky | $41K | -8% | 660 |
| Ohio | $41K | -8% | 5,760 |
| Mississippi | $41K | -8% | 480 |
| Nevada | $41K | -9% | 150 |
| Rhode Island | $41K | -10% | 200 |
| Kansas | $41K | -10% | 810 |
| Maryland | $40K | -11% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $40K | -11% | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -12% | 720 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -13% | 530 |
| Texas | $39K | -14% | 3,050 |
| Alabama | $39K | -14% | 1,580 |
| Florida | $39K | -14% | 1,000 |
| New Jersey | $38K | -15% | 930 |
| Montana | $38K | -16% | 160 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -17% | 190 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -19% | 40 |
| Delaware | $32K | -28% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
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 Killeen-Temple 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 Killeen-Temple, TX?
The median is $38,050 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,710, and experienced grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $48,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Killeen-Temple?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,718/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,233/month, which eats 45.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Killeen-Temple?
Killeen-Temple has a Regional Price Parity of 91.13 (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 $41,754 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.