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

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.

What you'd actually do

• 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.
• Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
• Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
• Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the day is spent working solo; time pressure is a real part of the job; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 0% of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

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Quick questions

How much does a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?

The median pay is $22.38 per hour — roughly $46,500 a year, with the real range running from about $17.36/hr (10th percentile) to $30.10/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic actually do all day?

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.