Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

ManufacturingO*NET 51-4033.00United States

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $46,478
Projected change: −8%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 69.03K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements.
Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.
Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic workpieces.
Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.
Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $35,952
25th percentile: $39,290
50th percentile: $46,478
75th percentile: $54,365
90th percentile: $62,795

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $46,478 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−8%projected to decline

202569,026 jobs

2035 projected63,529 jobs

5,497 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 81.5%
Certificate: 14.3%
Some college: 4.2%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Grinding Machine
Hand Tools
Machining
Lifting Ability
Grinding
Deburring
Micrometer
Calipers
Blueprinting
Machinery
Machine Operation
Tooling
General Mathematics
Mechanical Aptitude
Forklift Truck
Safety Procedures
Power Tool Operation
Personal Protective Equipment
Loading And Unloading
Tape Measure

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Deburr Technicians514 postings
02Survey Instrument Operators476 postings
03Grinders359 postings
04Operators307 postings
05Deburr Operators235 postings
06Instrument Fitters230 postings
07Die Cutter Operators222 postings
08Machine Operators185 postings
09Grinding Machine Operators172 postings
10Deburring Machine Operators146 postings
11Die Cast Operators124 postings
12Instrument Operators122 postings
13Burn Table Operators112 postings
14Press Operators107 postings
15Precision Grinders102 postings
16Set Up Operators95 postings
17Finishing Technicians90 postings
18Grinders/Polishers89 postings
19Deburrers88 postings
20Plasma Operators87 postings

Top employers

01Aerotek206 postings
02Precision Castparts102 postings
03Express Employment Professionals62 postings
04SAM62 postings
05Adecco50 postings
06ManpowerGroup48 postings
07Spherion Staffing45 postings
08Randstad42 postings
09Staffmark41 postings
10Bowman Consulting Group40 postings
11Pratt Industries39 postings
12Bowman & Company Llp37 postings
13Howmet Aerospace35 postings
14Boeing34 postings
15Ammega33 postings
16Nesco Resource31 postings
17Green Bay Packaging30 postings
18Colliers Engineering & Design27 postings
19Timmons Group26 postings
20Baker Concrete Construction25 postings

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