Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median $48,540 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$48,540
$23.34 per hour
Range
$36,520 – $69,240
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
26,000
across the U.S.
▲3.5%
Pay trend: The median for crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. rose from $46,890 (May 2024) to $48,540 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.1%.
What crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders do
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -1.7% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 2,300
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders is projected to shrink 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$41,182
per year · effective tax rate 15.2%
$3,432Monthly
$1,716Twice a month
$1,584Every 2 weeks
$19.80Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,645
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,009
- Medicare (1.45%)$704
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,182
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,520 | $17.56 | $31,524 |
| 25th percentile | $40,430 | $19.44 | $34,666 |
| Median (50th) | $48,540 | $23.34 | $41,182 |
| 75th percentile | $60,040 | $28.87 | $50,422 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,240 | $33.29 | $57,540 |
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $71,300 | −6.6% | $58,990 | $50,350 – $110,270 | 170 |
| Alaska | $68,730 | +3.2% | $57,182 | $39,310 – $88,300 | 60 |
| Iowa | $62,590 | +4.0% | $50,744 | $44,840 – $64,780 | 1,420 |
| Nevada | $60,180 | −5.9% | $50,535 | $38,040 – $83,390 | 660 |
| Montana | $60,110 | +29.3% | $48,410 | $34,630 – $66,250 | 260 |
| Nebraska | $58,920 | +12.0% | $47,721 | $45,160 – $78,830 | 270 |
| Vermont | $58,890 | +9.5% | $47,959 | $47,700 – $75,980 | 160 |
| West Virginia | $58,760 | +8.2% | $47,484 | $38,220 – $68,760 | 160 |
| New York | $58,090 | +8.9% | $46,315 | $42,610 – $74,310 | 950 |
| Minnesota | $56,550 | −2.8% | $45,296 | $45,500 – $81,800 | 660 |
| Oregon | $55,600 | +11.6% | $42,819 | $39,750 – $76,040 | 490 |
| Wisconsin | $54,580 | +9.8% | $44,415 | $45,150 – $72,540 | 530 |
| Maine | $54,080 | +2.3% | $43,165 | $40,580 – $86,690 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $53,130 | +0.5% | $43,404 | $37,440 – $68,890 | 200 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,560 | +7.2% | $42,798 | $42,930 – $66,080 | 980 |
| Alabama | $51,920 | +44.5% | $41,567 | $24,230 – $77,090 | 610 |
| Utah | $51,770 | +2.6% | $42,414 | $40,590 – $99,360 | 260 |
| Idaho | $51,500 | +5.8% | $41,939 | $40,040 – $65,070 | 370 |
| Indiana | $51,150 | +3.8% | $41,800 | $37,190 – $70,200 | 920 |
| New Hampshire | $50,360 | +3.2% | $42,644 | $40,560 – $68,720 | 130 |
| Arizona | $50,270 | +4.6% | $41,524 | $39,700 – $60,100 | — |
| Massachusetts | $50,110 | +3.0% | $40,158 | $43,110 – $62,640 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $49,280 | +2.9% | $41,776 | $36,260 – $73,920 | 310 |
| Missouri | $48,840 | +1.6% | $40,065 | $36,310 – $67,680 | 750 |
| Kansas | $48,570 | +4.9% | $39,295 | $33,330 – $68,450 | 470 |
| South Dakota | $48,330 | +0.0% | $41,013 | $35,530 – $63,840 | 120 |
| Illinois | $48,290 | −6.9% | $38,735 | $34,630 – $72,710 | 710 |
| Washington | $48,020 | −3.8% | $40,764 | $39,550 – $79,340 | 470 |
| Colorado | $46,950 | +2.2% | $38,547 | $39,210 – $64,590 | 520 |
| Florida | $46,950 | +5.8% | $39,904 | $36,520 – $69,100 | 520 |
| New Jersey | $46,690 | −8.1% | $38,664 | $35,600 – $66,500 | 560 |
| Michigan | $46,500 | −0.6% | $37,817 | $36,120 – $68,490 | 670 |
| North Carolina | $46,270 | +6.7% | $38,020 | $35,970 – $61,790 | 560 |
| Georgia | $45,920 | +19.1% | $37,316 | $36,080 – $70,200 | 800 |
| California | $45,870 | −0.2% | $37,616 | $37,340 – $72,580 | 2,370 |
| New Mexico | $45,760 | +5.8% | $37,948 | $34,750 – $59,670 | 170 |
| Virginia | $45,560 | +4.3% | $36,982 | $31,940 – $61,750 | 530 |
| South Carolina | $45,280 | +21.1% | $37,003 | $34,350 – $63,490 | 330 |
| Texas | $45,090 | +16.9% | $38,410 | $32,760 – $58,260 | 1,440 |
| Louisiana | $44,900 | −1.2% | $37,296 | $28,690 – $59,500 | 200 |
| Ohio | $43,850 | +10.8% | $36,990 | $35,910 – $64,110 | 1,590 |
| Tennessee | $42,950 | +3.2% | $36,690 | $35,760 – $57,800 | 1,290 |
| Kentucky | $42,520 | −9.4% | $34,974 | $34,340 – $60,280 | 200 |
| Maryland | $42,280 | +7.7% | $34,507 | $35,890 – $66,600 | 140 |
| Arkansas | $38,910 | +3.2% | $32,139 | $32,470 – $50,540 | 520 |
| Oklahoma | $38,380 | −3.2% | $31,837 | $33,880 – $63,520 | 390 |
| Mississippi | $37,420 | +4.6% | $31,482 | $31,090 – $51,880 | 170 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.1% |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $42,660 | No formal educational credential | -19.2% |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | $48,040 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.6% |
| Medical Appliance Technician | $48,030 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.5% |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.9% |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.6% |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.9% |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operator and Tender | $46,460 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders make?
The national median salary for crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders is $48,540 a year ($23.34 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,520 and the top 10% earn over $69,240. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Wyoming has the highest median pay at $71,300.
How many crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders are there in the U.S.?
About 26,000 people work as crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders nationwide.