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Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Washington
Considering working as a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Washington? Here’s what you need to know. 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 do Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Make in Washington?
For grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic working in Washington, the median annual wage is $47,550 per year (or about $22.86/hour).Pay can range from $38,550 at the 10th percentile to $66,730 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 25th percentile | $42,080 | $20.23 |
| Median (50th) | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| 75th percentile | $56,910 | $27.36 |
| 90th percentile | $66,730 | $32.08 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Washington relative to the national average — is 1.29, indicating that grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn a median of $52,281 per year ($25.14/hour), below the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 381,551 grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic across the United States. In Washington alone, around 2,080 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 810 grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
Top Washington Metros for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The largest metro-area employers of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Washington.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,250 | $49,470 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 290 | $45,170 |
| Yakima, WA | 100 | $42,080 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 40 | $50,330 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 30 | $51,880 |
Top States for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Employment
These states have the highest employment of grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 7,800 |
| Ohio | 5,760 |
| Illinois | 5,100 |
| Michigan | 4,670 |
| Indiana | 4,590 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,280 |
| Wisconsin | 3,430 |
| Texas | 3,050 |
| Massachusetts | 2,330 |
| New York | 2,320 |
| Washington | 2,080 |
| South Carolina | 2,020 |
| North Carolina | 1,820 |
| Alabama | 1,580 |
| Connecticut | 1,520 |
| Minnesota | 1,490 |
| Missouri | 1,480 |
| Iowa | 1,200 |
| Oregon | 1,160 |
| Georgia | 1,120 |
Highest-Paying States for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The highest-paying states for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Missouri | $58,920 |
| Oregon | $51,850 |
| Minnesota | $49,180 |
| Vermont | $49,160 |
| Massachusetts | $48,690 |
| South Carolina | $48,210 |
| Washington | $47,550 |
| Connecticut | $47,480 |
| North Carolina | $47,470 |
| Nebraska | $46,730 |
Skills
Key grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic typically:
- 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.
- Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.
- Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
- 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.
- Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
- Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.
- Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Related occupations to grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic include:
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also Known As
Abrasive Worker, Air Grinder, Aluminum Polisher, Automatic Grinder Operator, Axle Bearing Polisher, Axle Polisher, Balance Screwhead Polisher, Band Reamer Machine Operator, Band Saw Filer, Barrel Centerer, Barrel Polisher, Bearing Grinder, Bearingizer, Belt Polisher, Belt Technician (Belt Tech).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-4033.00
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