The median annual wage for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $47,370 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $50,580.
Pay spans roughly $38,890 at the 10th percentile to $68,160 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $22.77 per hour. An estimated 70 people work as grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
| Median (annual) | $47,370 |
| Mean (annual) | $50,580 |
| Median (hourly) | $22.77 |
| 10th percentile | $38,890 |
| 90th percentile | $68,160 |
| Employment | 70 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.