Life As a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender

Example of Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Job 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.

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Responsibilities

• Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.
• Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
• 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.
• Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
• Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
• Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools.

What Every Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Should Know

Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Knife Sharpener
• Metal Grinder
• Surface Grinder
• Watch Parts Grinder
• Wheel Grinder

Is There Going to be Demand for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 76,200 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. There will be an estimated 6,800 positions for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator are Idaho, North Dakota, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Colorado, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Salary

Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders make between $23,960 and $52,170 a year.

Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Maine, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.

How much do Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in different U.S. states?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$34,190
Arizona	$39,180
Arkansas	$34,910
California	$34,580
Colorado	$32,840
Connecticut	$43,350
Delaware	$28,230
Florida	$32,890
Georgia	$34,710
Idaho	$28,540
Illinois	$38,400
Indiana	$37,270
Iowa	$35,740
Kansas	$35,770
Kentucky	$37,440
Louisiana	$41,320
Maine	$42,950
Maryland	$43,200
Massachusetts	$41,290
Michigan	$37,070
Minnesota	$38,390
Mississippi	$40,840
Missouri	$40,800
Montana	$29,350
Nebraska	$39,630
Nevada	$32,300
New Hampshire	$34,950
New Jersey	$36,900
New Mexico	$26,610
New York	$39,010
North Carolina	$37,840
North Dakota	$40,060
Ohio	$34,980
Oklahoma	$32,240
Oregon	$42,990
Pennsylvania	$38,780
Rhode Island	$36,110
South Carolina	$39,880
South Dakota	$35,350
Tennessee	$36,870
Texas	$32,710
Utah	$34,530
Vermont	$38,550
Virginia	$31,030
Washington	$37,890
West Virginia	$31,070
Wisconsin	$36,800
Wyoming	$42,570

What Tools do Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• SAP
• Microsoft Windows
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Mazak Mazatrol SMART CNC

Becoming a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator

Learn what Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Related Careers

Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:

• Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Career changers with experience as a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
• Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
• Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
• Machinists

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.