How to become a crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders do
- Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
- Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
- Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
- Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
Is crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 5% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.