Description

Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.

Interests

Realistic
Conventional

Learn More about Interests

Work Values

Support
Relationships
Working Conditions

Learn More about Work Values

Work Styles

Dependability
Independence
Self-Control
Adaptability/Flexibility
Attention to Detail

Learn More about Work Styles

Tasks

Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
Notify supervisors of needed repairs.

Work Activities

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Getting Information
Controlling Machines and Processes
Handling and Moving Objects

Detailed Work Activities

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software
Electronic mail software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Office suite software
Word processing software

Skills

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Active Listening

Knowledge

Administration and Management
Production and Processing
English Language
Education and Training
Public Safety and Security

Most Common Education Level

The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.

Certificates

These are the certification(s) applicable to Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Certificate name	Certifying Organization	Type

Income Percentile

The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.

Income Percentile	Income
Low (10%)	$NaN
Median (50%)	$NaN
High (90%)	$NaN

Income by Experience

This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–7 years), to senior level (8+ years).

Experience	Income
Entry Level	$50,000
Mid Level	$100,000
Senior Level	$150,000

Employability

There are currently 26,500 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 26,300 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -1%.

The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.

Projected Job Growth of -1%

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$47,040

Projected Job Growth

-8 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

RealisticConventional

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

Median Annual Income

$42,610

Projected Job Growth

-11 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

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.

RealisticConventional

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Median Annual Income

$46,410

Projected Job Growth

-8 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.

RealisticConventional

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

Median Annual Income

$38,260

Projected Job Growth

-2 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.

RealisticConventional

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$48,120

Projected Job Growth

+2 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks; scrubbing towers; or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. Includes dairy processing equipment operators.

RealisticConventional

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

Median Annual Income

$38,940

Projected Job Growth

-18 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

No formal educational credential

Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.

RealisticConventional

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$46,100

Projected Job Growth

+4 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.

RealisticConventional

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$44,310

Projected Job Growth

-3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

RealisticConventional

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$42,670

Projected Job Growth

+3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.

RealisticConventional

Machine Feeders and Offbearers

Median Annual Income

$39,250

Projected Job Growth

-13 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

No formal educational credential

Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.

RealisticConventional

The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), with ONET® being a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA; CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED); and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).