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

Also called: Deburrer, Grinder, Grinder Operator, Process Equipment Operator

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.

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Median pay BLS, 2025$46,550
Openings a year BLS, 2025–354,500
Typical education to start BLSHigh school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 Low
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 -10.8%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 2 of its 18 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 10.8% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 8.3% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 92% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 24% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$38k$57knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$38,170$33,700 to $46,6101,500
Arizona$44,990$38,420 to $49,630670
Arkansas$39,590$37,670 to $47,220340
California$45,890$39,440 to $53,8207,800
Colorado$46,120$39,750 to $52,590500
Connecticut$48,590$39,080 to $58,7201,530
Delaware$44,390$38,360 to $44,39050
Florida$40,310$36,820 to $48,1201,020
Georgia$45,850$38,380 to $52,990940
Idaho$45,980$38,940 to $46,760170
Illinois$46,180$40,190 to $54,0004,100
Indiana$47,310$42,730 to $51,0304,170
Iowa$46,380$41,280 to $50,390890
Kansas$42,710$37,290 to $46,4001,010
Kentucky$49,160$42,790 to $58,490850
Louisiana$38,650$33,380 to $45,970160
Maine$47,230$42,950 to $50,950170
Maryland$43,530$36,260 to $48,580160
Massachusetts$50,910$45,440 to $60,3802,420
Michigan$45,460$38,210 to $56,1604,180
Minnesota$51,780$46,840 to $60,5601,400
Mississippi$42,660$36,650 to $63,620430
Missouri$46,270$40,010 to $59,4401,210
Montana$41,740$38,180 to $46,660160
Nebraska$48,500$38,980 to $49,680300
Nevada$46,140$40,580 to $51,110170
New Hampshire$46,580$41,390 to $50,910600
New Jersey$44,450$36,300 to $51,540860
New Mexico$38,020$36,670 to $45,10030
New York$49,290$43,590 to $60,2702,410
North Carolina$47,770$38,210 to $53,7601,610
North Dakota$47,670$47,210 to $52,170not published
Ohio$45,270$38,480 to $52,0005,960
Oklahoma$38,570$34,920 to $49,910870
Oregon$57,290$47,290 to $67,1501,180
Pennsylvania$47,650$40,090 to $53,0903,830
Puerto Rico$31,400$27,060 to $42,97060
Rhode Island$43,650$38,480 to $60,510140
South Carolina$48,040$45,020 to $58,3401,730
South Dakota$39,060$31,710 to $43,590130
Tennessee$44,710$37,860 to $48,5401,340
Texas$42,250$36,920 to $46,4602,960
Utah$44,320$38,540 to $50,800400
Vermont$50,640$50,280 to $59,420300
Virginia$43,170$34,760 to $47,830620
Washington$49,300$45,130 to $59,2501,870
West Virginia$49,950$37,750 to $58,270200
Wisconsin$47,330$41,190 to $55,4303,570
Wyoming$46,800$46,280 to $47,80030

Nationally: $46,550. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 2 of its 18 tasks

0 · AI alone could halve the time 2 · AI + software built on it could 16 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
Not much Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers. Not published
Not much 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. Not published
Not much Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation. Not published
Not much Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems. Not published
Not much Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications. Not published
AI + software Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements. Not published
See all 18 tasks
Not much Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices. Not published
Not much Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences. Not published
Not much Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings. Not published
AI + software Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required. Not published
Not much Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools. Not published
Not much Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces. Not published
Not much Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps. Not published
Not much Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points. Not published
Not much Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools. Not published
Not much Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders. Not published
Not much Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing. Not published
Not much Adjust air cylinders and setting stops to set traverse lengths and feed arm strokes. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 18 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 18 tasks fall under 15 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up2 of 18 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most2 of 15 activities
  • #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
  • #38 Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Operate cutting or grinding equipment 0.54#267 0.01#321
Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment 6.04#113 1.15#158
Position workpieces or materials on equipment 0.61#264 0.17#249
Set up equipment 20#58 4.69#95
Read documents or materials to inform work processes 197#8 47#28
Select materials or equipment for operations or projects 45#38 19#49
Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance 20#57 4.31#101
Maintain tools or equipment 4.47#136 1.04#167
Show all 15 activities
Shape materials to create products 3.04#167 0.26#235
Notify others of emergencies or problems 2.78#172 4.95#92
Repair tools or equipment 1.87#202 0.18#246
Monitor equipment operation 1.87#203 0.26#236
Position materials or components for assembly 1.64#208 0.45#213
Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products 0.43#276 0.10#268
Operate lifting or moving equipment 0.09#318 0.02#311
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Repair tools or equipment” holds 1 task rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 1.87 of every 10,000 conversations, #202 of 332.
How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic: -10.8%Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic: -10.8%Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 3,224 moves out

  1. 1 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Low +1.5% 8%
  2. 2 Photographers High -0.7% 7%
  3. 3 Construction Laborers Low +7.3% 6%
  4. 4 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 5%
  5. 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%

Where people moved in from

of 3,195 moves in

  1. 1 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Low +1.5% 12%
  2. 2 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 7%
  3. 3 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
  4. 4 Construction Laborers Low +7.3% 4%
  5. 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 3%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 22% less than high school
  • 54% high school
  • 14% some college
  • 5% associate's
  • 4% bachelor's
  • 1% master's

Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 367 people surveyed.

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation

Programs that prepare people for it (NCES)
2 programs: Machine Tool Technology/Machinist and Machine Shop Technology/Assistant.

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

19.3% this occupation

45.3% all occupations

By kindThis occupationAll occupations
a license<0.5%19.1%
a certification<0.5%5.8%
an educational certificate<0.5%2.8%

Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

  • Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
  • Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
  • License Finder ↗ licenses by state
  • Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 3 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (GRINDER I (Clock & Watch); GRINDER SET-UP OPERATOR, JIG; STONE POLISHER). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” there.

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

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