How to become a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Q: How do I become a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

The typical entry-level education is usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..

Q: How much does a grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?

The median pay in the United States is $46,550 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025).

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.

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.Typical entry-level education

$46,550Median pay a year

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 grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do

Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
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.
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.
Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.

Skills that matter most

Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Active Listening
Speaking
Active Learning
Mathematics
Writing

Is grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 9% 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

Oregon $57,290
Minnesota $51,780
Massachusetts $50,910
Vermont $50,640
West Virginia $49,950

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