Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Portland-South Portland, ME
The median pay for a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Portland-South Portland, ME is $48,190/year ($23.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $47,310 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,130/month — about 64% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). 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, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $25K 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 Portland-South Portland numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $48,190 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,240, and experienced grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $64,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,227/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 66% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. 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 $47,310 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.