All About Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Occupation Description 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.
Life As a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator
- Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
- Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
- Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.
- Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
- Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required.
- Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders.
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What Every Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Should Know
When polled, Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Types of Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Jobs
- Deburring and Tooling Machine Operator
- Knife Blade Polisher
- Job Setter
- Tool Polisher
- Color Buffer
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Employment Estimates
There were about 76,200 jobs for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,800 job openings in this field each 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.
Average Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The typical yearly salary for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders is somewhere between $23,960 and $52,170.
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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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
What education is needed to be a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
The table below shows the approximate number of Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- 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:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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