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Supply Chain & ProductionDeclining

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

Q: What is the salary of a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

The typical salary range is $31,632 - $63,265 per year.

Operational-level

Also known as: Abrasive Worker, Air Grinder, Aluminum Polisher, Automatic Grinder Operator

Supply Chain & ProductionBachelor's Degree

Job Description

As a grinding, lapping, polishing, or buffing machine operator, you'll set up and run specialized tools to refine metal and plastic parts. Your daily tasks include removing excess material, sharpening edges, and achieving smooth, polished finishes. This hands-on role demands precision and attention to detail, often in an environment with some noise or contaminants. You'll wear safety gear and communicate with teammates, applying your critical thinking and math skills to ensure accuracy.

Metal FinishingPrecision MachiningManufacturing TechnologyGrinding & PolishingIndustrial ProductionOperations ManagementMechanical EngineeringSkilled TradeProductionManufacturing

A Day in the Life

You clock in at Precision Parts Manufacturing in Detroit, grabbing your safety glasses, hearing protection, and lacing up your steel-toed boots. The morning shift buzzes as you head to your workstation, reviewing today's production schedule on a mounted tablet. Your primary machine, an Okuma CNC grinder, awaits its first task. You wipe down surfaces, ensuring a clean start, then check the coolant levels and the condition of the grinding wheel, preparing for a day of precise work.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Autodesk AutoCAD Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Windows SAP software

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Projected growth

-10.8%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

4,500

per year (US)

Jobs today

68,500

in 2025 → 61,100 (2035)

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

Low

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

Moderate

Time spent sitting

Low

Working outdoors

Low

Indoor, climate-controlled

Moderate

Dealing with customers

Low

Level of competition

Low

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Declining Job Market

This career is projected to see a decline of about 10.8% in employment from 2025 to 2035. Despite this, about 4,500 job openings are expected each year due to people leaving the workforce. The median annual wage for this role is about $46,550. People typically start in production roles and can advance to positions like CNC machine technicians or manufacturing supervisors.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Entry-Level Production Worker
Manufacturing Assembler

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

Where it can lead

CNC Machine Tool Technician
Manufacturing Supervisor
Quality Control Inspector

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will increasingly optimize machine settings and quality control for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing processes, leveraging real-time data for enhanced precision and efficiency. This will likely shift operators' roles towards supervising AI systems, interpreting performance data, and performing advanced troubleshooting, rather than solely manual adjustments.

Salary

$46,550

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position