Careers / Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$46,550
United States, 2025
Employment
67,000
United States, 2025
Typical education
Not recorded
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 51-4033.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
- Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
- Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
- Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
- Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
- Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
- Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
- Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$36,110
25th percentile
$39,390
75th percentile
$54,290
90th percentile
$62,600
Most important skills
- Operation and Control4.0
- Operations Monitoring4.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Troubleshooting2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Speaking2.8
- Active Listening2.8
- Coordination2.8
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 5 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
5
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.0 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 4.0 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | 2.6 | Not selected | 2.6 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton, OH | $67,210 | 350 | 2025 |
| Bend, OR | $60,180 | 40 | 2025 |
| Muskegon, MI | $59,750 | 460 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $58,680 | 930 | 2025 |
| Utica, NY | $57,420 | 130 | 2025 |
| OR | $57,290 | 1,180 | 2025 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $57,110 | 50 | 2025 |
| Sandusky, OH | $56,670 | 120 | 2025 |
| Rochester, MN | $55,990 | 30 | 2025 |
| Huntington, WV | $55,590 | 70 | 2025 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $55,080 | 190 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $53,930 | 1,050 | 2025 |
| Longview, WA | $53,620 | 50 | 2025 |
| Reading, PA | $53,090 | 350 | 2025 |
| Tyler, TX | $52,880 | 50 | 2025 |
| Springfield, MA | $52,660 | 350 | 2025 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $52,310 | 200 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $51,990 | 1,000 | 2025 |
| Charleston, SC | $51,930 | 180 | 2025 |
| MN | $51,780 | 1,400 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.