Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
The median pay for a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in St. Louis, MO-IL is $58,920/year ($28.33/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.09), that's roughly $61,962 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,218/month — about 31.5% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $59K get you in St. Louis?
About grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, St. Louis, MO-IL
Entry-level grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K.Top earners bring in $62K or more - a $23K 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median is $58,920 a year - that works out to about $28.33 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,830, and experienced grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $62,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in St. Louis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,947/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,218/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 30.9% 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 St. Louis?
St. Louis has a Regional Price Parity of 95.09 (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 $61,962 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.